Examine notth' inscrutable heart,LightMuseof her, though she in partImpart it to the subiect;Search not, although from Heau'n thou art,And this an heauenly obiect.But since she hath a heart, we know,Euer some passions thence doe flow,Though euer rul'd with Honor;Her judgment raignes, they waite below,And fixe their eyes vpon her.Rectified so, they in their kindEncrease each vertue of her mind,Gouern'd with mild tranquilitie;In all the regions vnder heau'n,No State doth beare it selfe so euen,And with so sweet facilitie.
Examine notth' inscrutable heart,LightMuseof her, though she in partImpart it to the subiect;Search not, although from Heau'n thou art,And this an heauenly obiect.
But since she hath a heart, we know,Euer some passions thence doe flow,Though euer rul'd with Honor;Her judgment raignes, they waite below,And fixe their eyes vpon her.
Rectified so, they in their kindEncrease each vertue of her mind,Gouern'd with mild tranquilitie;In all the regions vnder heau'n,No State doth beare it selfe so euen,And with so sweet facilitie.
HYMNE XXI.
Of the innumerable vertues of her minde.
Ere thou proceed in this sweet paines,LearneMusehow many drops it rainesIn cold and moistDecember;Sum upMayflowres, andAugustgraines,And grapes of mildSeptember.Beare the Sea's sand in memory,Earth's grasses, and the starres in skie;The little moates which mounted,Hang, in the beames ofPhœbus'eye,And neuer can be counted.Recount these numbers numberlesse,[178]Ere thou her vertue canst expresse,Great wits this count will, cumber.Instruct thy selfe in numbring Schooles;Now courtiers vse to begge for fooles,All such as cannot number.
Ere thou proceed in this sweet paines,LearneMusehow many drops it rainesIn cold and moistDecember;Sum upMayflowres, andAugustgraines,And grapes of mildSeptember.
Beare the Sea's sand in memory,Earth's grasses, and the starres in skie;The little moates which mounted,Hang, in the beames ofPhœbus'eye,And neuer can be counted.
Recount these numbers numberlesse,[178]Ere thou her vertue canst expresse,Great wits this count will, cumber.Instruct thy selfe in numbring Schooles;Now courtiers vse to begge for fooles,All such as cannot number.
HYMNE XXII.
Of her Wisdome.
E[a]gle-eyed Wisdome, life's loadstarre,Looking neere on things afarre;Ioue's best beloued daughter,Showes to her spirit all[179]that are,As Ioue himselfe hath taught her.By this straight rule she rectifiesEach thought that in [her] heart doth rise:This is her cleane true mirror,Herlooking-glasse, wherein she spiesA[ll] forms of Truth and Error.Right princely vertue fit to raigne,Enthroniz'd in her spirit remaine,Guiding our fortunes euer;If we this starre once cease to see,No doubt our State will shipwrackt bee,And torne and sunke for euer.
E[a]gle-eyed Wisdome, life's loadstarre,Looking neere on things afarre;Ioue's best beloued daughter,Showes to her spirit all[179]that are,As Ioue himselfe hath taught her.
By this straight rule she rectifiesEach thought that in [her] heart doth rise:This is her cleane true mirror,Herlooking-glasse, wherein she spiesA[ll] forms of Truth and Error.
Right princely vertue fit to raigne,Enthroniz'd in her spirit remaine,Guiding our fortunes euer;If we this starre once cease to see,No doubt our State will shipwrackt bee,And torne and sunke for euer.
HYMNE XXIII.
Of her Justice.
Exil'dAstræais come againe,Lo here she doth all things maintaineInnumber,weight, andmeasure:She rules vs with delightfull paine,And we obey with pleasure.ByLoueshe rules more then byLaw,Euen her great mercy breedeth awe;This is her sword and scepter:Herewith she hearts did euer draw,And this guard euer kept her.Reward doth sit in her right-hand,Each vertue thence taks her garlandGather'd in Honor's garden;In her left hand (wherein should beNought but the sword) sits ClemencyAnd conquers Vice with pardon.
Exil'dAstræais come againe,Lo here she doth all things maintaineInnumber,weight, andmeasure:She rules vs with delightfull paine,And we obey with pleasure.
ByLoueshe rules more then byLaw,Euen her great mercy breedeth awe;This is her sword and scepter:Herewith she hearts did euer draw,And this guard euer kept her.
Reward doth sit in her right-hand,Each vertue thence taks her garlandGather'd in Honor's garden;In her left hand (wherein should beNought but the sword) sits ClemencyAnd conquers Vice with pardon.
HYMNE XXIV.
Of her Magnanimitie.
Euen as her State, so is her mind,Lifted aboue the vulgar kind;It treades proud Fortune vnder:Sun-like it sits aboue the wind,Aboue the stormes, and thunder.Braue spirit, large heart, admiringnought,Esteeming each thing as it ought,That swelleth not, nor shrinketh;Honour is alwayes in her thought,And of great things she thinketh.Rocks, pillars, and heauen's axeltree,Exemplifie her constancy;Great changes neuer change her:In her sexe, feares are wont to rise,Naturepermits,Vertuedenies,And scornes the face ofDanger.
Euen as her State, so is her mind,Lifted aboue the vulgar kind;It treades proud Fortune vnder:Sun-like it sits aboue the wind,Aboue the stormes, and thunder.
Braue spirit, large heart, admiringnought,Esteeming each thing as it ought,That swelleth not, nor shrinketh;Honour is alwayes in her thought,And of great things she thinketh.
Rocks, pillars, and heauen's axeltree,Exemplifie her constancy;Great changes neuer change her:In her sexe, feares are wont to rise,Naturepermits,Vertuedenies,And scornes the face ofDanger.
HYMNE XXV.
Of her Moderation.
Empresse of kingdomes though she be,Larger is her soueraigntieIf she her selfe doe gouerne;Subiect vnto her self is she,And of her selfe true soueraigne.Beautie's crowne though she do weare,Exalted into Fortune's chaire,Thron'd like the Queene of Pleasure;Her vertues still possesse her eare,And counsell her to measure.Reason, if shee incarnate were,Euen Reason's selfe could neuer beareGreatnesse with moderation;In her one temper still is seene,No libertee claimes she as Queene,And showes no alteration.
Empresse of kingdomes though she be,Larger is her soueraigntieIf she her selfe doe gouerne;Subiect vnto her self is she,And of her selfe true soueraigne.
Beautie's crowne though she do weare,Exalted into Fortune's chaire,Thron'd like the Queene of Pleasure;Her vertues still possesse her eare,And counsell her to measure.
Reason, if shee incarnate were,Euen Reason's selfe could neuer beareGreatnesse with moderation;In her one temper still is seene,No libertee claimes she as Queene,And showes no alteration.
HYMNE XXVI.
To Enuy.
Enuy, goe weepe; my Muse and ILaugh thee to scorne: thy feeble eyeIs dazeled with the gloryShining in this gay poesie,And little golden story.Behold how my proud quill doth shedEternallnectaron her head;The pompe of coronationHath not such power her fame to spread,As this my admiration.Respect my pen as free and frankeExpecting not reward nor thanke,Great wonder onely moues it;Inever made it mercenary,Nor should my Muse this burthen carrieAs hyr'd, but that she loues it.
Enuy, goe weepe; my Muse and ILaugh thee to scorne: thy feeble eyeIs dazeled with the gloryShining in this gay poesie,And little golden story.
Behold how my proud quill doth shedEternallnectaron her head;The pompe of coronationHath not such power her fame to spread,As this my admiration.
Respect my pen as free and frankeExpecting not reward nor thanke,Great wonder onely moues it;Inever made it mercenary,Nor should my Muse this burthen carrieAs hyr'd, but that she loues it.
Finis.
NOTE.
In the Registers of the Stationer's Company, under date 25th June, 1594, a Mr. Harrison entered for copy-right of 'Orchestra' (Notes and Queries 3 S.II., p. 461: Dec. 13, '62): but it was not published till 1596. The following is the original title-page:
ORCHESTRAORA POEME ON DAUNCINGIudicially prooving thetrue observation of time andmeasure, in the Authenticalland laudable use of Dauncing.Ouid. Art. Aman. lib I.Si vox est, canta: si molliabrachia, saltaEt quacunque potes doteplacere, place.AT LONDON:Printed by J. Robartsfor N. Ling.1596.[18mo: pp 46: register A B C of 8 leaves each.]
In the Bodleian copy there is this inscription at top of title-page "Ex dono Wilti. Burdett, amici sui primo die Decembr. 1596 36. E. R."
Instead of the after-dedication 'To the Prince' there was the 'Sonnet' to Martin which we have placed before it. The title-page from the edition of 1622 may be added here:—
ORCHESTRA.ORA Poeme expressing the An-tiquitie and ExcellencieOF DAVNCING.In a Dialogue betweenePenelopeand one of her Wooers.Not Finished.LONDON.Printed by A. M. for Richard Hawkins.1622. [8vo.]
With reference to 'Not finished' placed on the later title-page (1622), it is explained by the stanzas restored from the first edition. These shew that the Poet had intended to pursue his subject further; even the hitherto omitted stanzas reading more like a fresh 'invocation' than a 'conclusion.'
Our text, as with 'Nosce Teipsum,' is from the edition of 1622: but compared throughout with above very rare, if not unique, first edition from the Bodleian. At close, by recurrence to the original edition we are able to supply the blanks of all the subsequent editions and reprints. See our Memorial-Introduction, for explanation of the omission: and for Sir John Harington's 'Epigram' on 'Orchestra.' G.
[Dedications.]
I. TO HIS VERY FRIEND, MA. RICH. MARTIN.[180]
To whom shall I this dauncing Poem send,This suddaine, rash, half-capreol[181]of my wit?To you, first mouer and sole cause of it,Mine-owne-selues better halfe, my deerest frend.O, would you yet my Muse some Honny lendFrom your mellifluous tongue, whereon doth sitSuada in Maiestie, that I may fitThese harsh beginnings with a sweeter end.You know the modest Sunne full fifteene timesBlushing did rise, and blushing did descend,While I in making of these ill made rimes,My golden howers unthriftily did spend:Yet, if in friendship you these numbers prayse,I will mispend another fifteene dayes.
To whom shall I this dauncing Poem send,This suddaine, rash, half-capreol[181]of my wit?To you, first mouer and sole cause of it,Mine-owne-selues better halfe, my deerest frend.O, would you yet my Muse some Honny lendFrom your mellifluous tongue, whereon doth sitSuada in Maiestie, that I may fitThese harsh beginnings with a sweeter end.You know the modest Sunne full fifteene timesBlushing did rise, and blushing did descend,While I in making of these ill made rimes,My golden howers unthriftily did spend:Yet, if in friendship you these numbers prayse,I will mispend another fifteene dayes.
II. TO THE PRINCE.[182]
Sir, whatsoeuerYOVare pleas'd to dooIt is your special praise, that you are bent,And sadly[183]set your princely mind thereto:Which makesYOVin each thing so excellent.Hence is it thatYOVcame so soon to beeA man-at-armes in euery point aright;The fairest flowre of noble chiualrie;And of SaintGeorgehis band, the brauest knight.And hence it is, that all your youthfull traineIn actiueness and grace,YOVdoe excell;WhenYOVdoe courtly dauncings entertaineThen Dauncing's praise may be presented wellToYOV, whose action adds more praise thereto,Then all theMuseswith their penns can doo.
Sir, whatsoeuerYOVare pleas'd to dooIt is your special praise, that you are bent,And sadly[183]set your princely mind thereto:Which makesYOVin each thing so excellent.
Hence is it thatYOVcame so soon to beeA man-at-armes in euery point aright;The fairest flowre of noble chiualrie;And of SaintGeorgehis band, the brauest knight.
And hence it is, that all your youthfull traineIn actiueness and grace,YOVdoe excell;WhenYOVdoe courtly dauncings entertaineThen Dauncing's praise may be presented well
ToYOV, whose action adds more praise thereto,Then all theMuseswith their penns can doo.
Orchestra,
OR
A POEME OF DAUNCING.
1.
Where liues the man that neuer yet did heareOf chastePenelope,Ulisses'Queene?Who kept her faith vnspotted twentie yeare,Till he return'd that farre away had beene,And many men, and many townes had seen:Ten yeare at siege of Troy he lingring lay,And ten yeare in the Mid-land-Sea did stray.
Where liues the man that neuer yet did heareOf chastePenelope,Ulisses'Queene?Who kept her faith vnspotted twentie yeare,Till he return'd that farre away had beene,And many men, and many townes had seen:Ten yeare at siege of Troy he lingring lay,And ten yeare in the Mid-land-Sea did stray.
2.
Homer, to whom the Muses did carouseA great deepe cup with heauenly nectar filld:The greatest, deepest cup inIoue'sgreat house,(ForIouehimselfe had so expresly willd)He dranke off all, ne let one drop be spilld;Since when, his braine that had before been drie,Became the well-spring of all Poetrie.
Homer, to whom the Muses did carouseA great deepe cup with heauenly nectar filld:The greatest, deepest cup inIoue'sgreat house,(ForIouehimselfe had so expresly willd)He dranke off all, ne let one drop be spilld;Since when, his braine that had before been drie,Became the well-spring of all Poetrie.
3.
Homerdoth tell in his aboundant verse,The long laborious trauailes of theMan;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 sworn,ThatNeptune'smonsters had his carkase torne.
Homerdoth tell in his aboundant verse,The long laborious trauailes of theMan;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 sworn,ThatNeptune'smonsters had his carkase 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 shouldUlisseswrong,To mingle it his tragike acts among;Yet was there not in all the world of things,A sweeter burden for his Muse's wings.
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 shouldUlisseswrong,To mingle it his tragike acts among;Yet was there not in all the world of things,A sweeter burden for his Muse's wings.
5.
The courtly loueAntinousdid make:Antinousthat fresh and iolly knight,Which of the gallants that did vndertakeTo win the widdow, had most wealth and might,Wit to perswade, and beautie to delight:The courtly loue he made vnto the Queene,Homerforgot, as if it had not beene.
The courtly loueAntinousdid make:Antinousthat fresh and iolly knight,Which of the gallants that did vndertakeTo win the widdow, had most wealth and might,Wit to perswade, and beautie to delight:The courtly loue he made vnto the Queene,Homerforgot, as if it had not beene.
6.
Sing thenTerpischore, my light Muse singHis gentle art, andcunning curtesie;You lady can remember euery thing,For you are daughter of Queene Memorie;But sing a plaine and easy melodie:For the soft meane that warbleth but the ground,To my rude eare doth yeeld the sweetest sound.
Sing thenTerpischore, my light Muse singHis gentle art, andcunning curtesie;You lady can remember euery thing,For you are daughter of Queene Memorie;But sing a plaine and easy melodie:For the soft meane that warbleth but the ground,To my rude eare doth yeeld the sweetest sound.
7.
One onely night's discourse I can report,When the great Torch-bearer of Heauen was goneDowne in a maske vnto the Ocean's Court,To reuell it with Thetis[184]all alone;Antinous disguisèd and vnknowne,Like to the Spring in gaudie ornament,Vnto the Castle of the Princesse went.
One onely night's discourse I can report,When the great Torch-bearer of Heauen was goneDowne in a maske vnto the Ocean's Court,To reuell it with Thetis[184]all alone;Antinous disguisèd and vnknowne,Like to the Spring in gaudie ornament,Vnto the Castle of the Princesse went.
8.
The soueraine Castle of the rockie Ile,WhereinPenelopethe Princesse lay;Shone with a thousand lamps, which did exileThe shadowes darke,[185]and turn'd the night to day;NotIoue'sblew tent, what time the sunny rayBehind the Bulwarke of the Earth retires,Is seene to sparkle with more twinckling fires.
The soueraine Castle of the rockie Ile,WhereinPenelopethe Princesse lay;Shone with a thousand lamps, which did exileThe shadowes darke,[185]and turn'd the night to day;NotIoue'sblew tent, what time the sunny rayBehind the Bulwarke of the Earth retires,Is seene to sparkle with more twinckling fires.
9.
That night the Queen came forth from far within,And in the presence of her Court was seene;For the sweet singerPhœmius[186]did beginTo praise the worthies that atTroyhad beene;Somewhat of herUlissesshe did weene.In his graue hymne the heau'nly man would sing,Or of his warres, or of his wandering.
That night the Queen came forth from far within,And in the presence of her Court was seene;For the sweet singerPhœmius[186]did beginTo praise the worthies that atTroyhad beene;Somewhat of herUlissesshe did weene.In his graue hymne the heau'nly man would sing,Or of his warres, or of his wandering.
10.
Pallasthat houre with her sweet breath diuineInspir'd immortall beautie in her eyes;That with cælestiall glory shee did shine,Brighter[187]thenVenuswhen shee doth ariseOut of the waters to adorne the skies;The Wooers all amazèd doe admireAnd checke their owne presumptuous desire.
Pallasthat houre with her sweet breath diuineInspir'd immortall beautie in her eyes;That with cælestiall glory shee did shine,Brighter[187]thenVenuswhen shee doth ariseOut of the waters to adorne the skies;The Wooers all amazèd doe admireAnd checke their owne presumptuous desire.
11.
OnelyAntinouswhen at first he view'dHer starbright eyes, that with new honour shind;Was not dismayd, but there-with-all renew'dThe noblesse and the splendour of his mind;And as he did fit circumstances find,Vnto the throne he boldly gan aduance,And with faire maners wooed the Queene to dance.
OnelyAntinouswhen at first he view'dHer starbright eyes, that with new honour shind;Was not dismayd, but there-with-all renew'dThe noblesse and the splendour of his mind;And as he did fit circumstances find,Vnto the throne he boldly gan aduance,And with faire maners wooed the 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.
'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 moouer 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 yeeld a sight more pleasing to behold,'With all their turnes and tracings manifold.'
'Let me the moouer 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 yeeld 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 answer mild:'Faire Sir, you needs must fairely be denide'Where your demaund cannot be satisfide;'My feet, which onely Nature taught to goe,'Did neuer yet the art of footing know.
With this the modest Princesse blusht and smil'd,Like to a cleare and rosie euentide,And softly did returne this answer mild:'Faire Sir, you needs must fairely be denide'Where your demaund cannot be satisfide;'My feet, 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 fond nephews make their chiefe affaires,'Would hate themselues that had begot such heires.'
'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 fond nephews make their chiefe affaires,'Would hate themselues that had begot such heires.'
16.
'Sole heire of Vertue and of Beautie both,'Whence cometh it (Antinousreplies)'That your imper[i]ous vertue is so loth'To graunt your beauty her chiefe exercise?'Or from what spring doth your opinion rise'That dauncing[188]is a frenzy and a rage,'First knowne and vs'd in this new-fangled age?
'Sole heire of Vertue and of Beautie both,'Whence cometh it (Antinousreplies)'That your imper[i]ous vertue is so loth'To graunt your beauty her chiefe exercise?'Or from what spring doth your opinion rise'That dauncing[188]is a frenzy and a rage,'First knowne and vs'd in this new-fangled age?
17.
'Dauncing[189](bright Lady) then began to bee,'When the first seeds whereof the World did spring,'The fire, ayre, earth, and water—did agree,'By Loue's perswasion,—Nature's mighty King,—'To leaue their first disordred combating;'And in a daunce such measure to obserue,'As all the world their motion should preserue.
'Dauncing[189](bright Lady) then began to bee,'When the first seeds whereof the World did spring,'The fire, ayre, earth, and water—did agree,'By Loue's perswasion,—Nature's 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 another's place;'Yet doe they neither mingle nor confound,'But euery one doth keepe the bounded space'Wherein the Daunce doth bid it turne or trace;'This wondrous myracle did Loue deuise,'For Dauncing is Love's proper exercise.
'Since when, they still are carried in a round,'And changing, come one in another's place;'Yet doe they neither mingle nor confound,'But euery one doth keepe the bounded space'Wherein the Daunce doth bid it turne or trace;'This wondrous myracle did Loue deuise,'For Dauncing is Love's proper exercise.
19.
'Like this, he fram'd the gods' eternall Bower,'And of a shapelesse and confusèd masse,'By his through-piercing and digesting power,'The turning vault of heauen formèd was;'Whose starry wheeles he hath so made to passe,'As that their moouings do a musicke frame,'And they themselues still daunce vnto the same.
'Like this, he fram'd the gods' eternall Bower,'And of a shapelesse and confusèd masse,'By his through-piercing and digesting power,'The turning vault of heauen formèd was;'Whose starry wheeles he hath so made to passe,'As that their moouings do a musicke frame,'And they themselues still daunce vnto the same.
20.
'Or if this All which round about we see,'(As idleMorpheussome sicke braines hath taught)'Of vndeuidedmotescompacted bee:'How was this goodly Architecture wrought?'Or by what meanes were they together brought?'They erre that say they did concurre by chance:'Loue made them meet in a well-ordered daunce.
'Or if this All which round about we see,'(As idleMorpheussome sicke braines hath taught)'Of vndeuidedmotescompacted bee:'How was this goodly Architecture wrought?'Or by what meanes were they together brought?'They erre that say they did concurre by chance:'Loue made them meet in a well-ordered daunce.
21.
'As whenAmphionwith his charming lire'Begot so sweet a syren of the ayre;'That with her Rethorike made the stones conspire'The ruines of a citie to repaire:'(A worke of wit and reason's wise affaire)'So Loue's smooth tongue, themotessuch measure taught'That they ioyn'd hands; and so the world was wrought.
'As whenAmphionwith his charming lire'Begot so sweet a syren of the ayre;'That with her Rethorike made the stones conspire'The ruines of a citie to repaire:'(A worke of wit and reason's wise affaire)'So Loue's smooth tongue, themotessuch measure taught'That they ioyn'd hands; and so the world was wrought.
22.
'How iustly then is Dauncing tearmèd new,'Which with the World in point of time begun?'Yea Time it selfe, (whose birthIoueneuer knew,'And which indeed is elder then the sun)[190]'Had not one moment of his age outrunne,'When out leapt Dauncing from the heap of things,'And lightly rode vpon his nimble wings.
'How iustly then is Dauncing tearmèd new,'Which with the World in point of time begun?'Yea Time it selfe, (whose birthIoueneuer knew,'And which indeed is elder then the sun)[190]'Had not one moment of his age outrunne,'When out leapt Dauncing from the heap of things,'And lightly rode vpon his nimble wings.
23.
'Reason hath both their pictures in her treasure,'WhereTime the measure of all mouing is,'And Dauncing is a moouing all in measure;'Now if you doe resemble that to this,'And thinke both one, I thinke you thinke amis:'But if you iudge them twins, together got,'And Time first borne, your iudgement erreth not.
'Reason hath both their pictures in her treasure,'WhereTime the measure of all mouing is,'And Dauncing is a moouing all in measure;'Now if you doe resemble that to this,'And thinke both one, I thinke you thinke amis:'But if you iudge them twins, together got,'And Time first borne, your iudgement erreth not.
24.
'Thus doth 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 the eldest of the heau'nly powers;'Or like his brother Time, whose wingèd howers'Going and comming will not let him dye,'But still preserve him in his infancie.'
'Thus doth 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 the eldest of the heau'nly powers;'Or like his brother Time, whose wingèd howers'Going and comming will not let him dye,'But still preserve him in his infancie.'
25.
This said; the Queene with her sweet lips diuine,Gently began to moue the subtile ayre,Which gladly yeelding, did itselfe inclineTo take a shape betweene those rubies fayre;And being formèd, softly did repayreWith twenty doublings in the emptie way,VntoAntinouseares, and thus did say:
This said; the Queene with her sweet lips diuine,Gently began to moue the subtile ayre,Which gladly yeelding, did itselfe inclineTo take a shape betweene those rubies fayre;And being formèd, softly did repayreWith twenty doublings in the emptie way,VntoAntinouseares, and thus did say:
26.
'What eye doth see the heau'n, but doth admire'When it the moouings 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 Reason's eye discerne.
'What eye doth see the heau'n, but doth admire'When it the moouings 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 Reason's eye discerne.
27.
Antinous answered: 'Iewell of the Earth,'Worthy you are that heau'nly daunce to leade;'But for you thinke our dauncing base of birth,'And newly-borne but of a braine-sicke head,'I will foorthwith his antique gentry read;'And for I loue him, will his herault[191]be,'And blaze his Armes, and draw his petigree.[192]
Antinous answered: 'Iewell of the Earth,'Worthy you are that heau'nly daunce to leade;'But for you thinke our dauncing base of birth,'And newly-borne but of a braine-sicke head,'I will foorthwith his antique gentry read;'And for I loue him, will his herault[191]be,'And blaze his Armes, and draw his petigree.[192]
28.
'When Loue had shapt this World,—this great faire wight,'That all wights else in this wide womb containes;'And had instructed it to daunce aright,[193]'A thousand measures with a thousand straines,'Which it should practise with delightfull paines,[194]'Vntill that fatall instant should reuolue,'When all to nothing should againe resolue:
'When Loue had shapt this World,—this great faire wight,'That all wights else in this wide womb containes;'And had instructed it to daunce aright,[193]'A thousand measures with a thousand straines,'Which it should practise with delightfull paines,[194]'Vntill that fatall instant should reuolue,'When all to nothing should againe resolue:
29.
'The comely order and proportion faire'On euery side, did please his wandring eye:'Till glauncing through the thin transparent ayre,'A rude disordered rout he did espie'Of men and women, that most spightfully'Did one another throng, and crowd so sore,'That his kind eye in pitty wept therefore.
'The comely order and proportion faire'On euery side, did please his wandring eye:'Till glauncing through the thin transparent ayre,'A rude disordered rout he did espie'Of men and women, that most spightfully'Did one another throng, and crowd so sore,'That his kind eye in pitty wept therefore.
30.
'And swifter 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 asunder fling,'And ere they wist, he casts them in a ring.
'And swifter 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 asunder 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 beams that from his forehead spreading[195]went,'Begot an horrour, and religious feare'In all the soules that round about him weare;'Which in their eares attentiueness procures,'While he, with such like sounds, their minds allures.
'Then did he rarifie the element,'And in the center of the ring appeare;'The beams that from his forehead spreading[195]went,'Begot an horrour, and religious feare'In all the soules that round about him weare;'Which in their eares attentiueness procures,'While he, with such like sounds, their minds allures.
32.
'How doth Confusion's mother, headlong Chance,[196]'Put Reason's noble squadron to the rout?'Or how should you that haue the gouernance'Of Nature's children, Heauen and Earth throughout,'Prescribe them rules, and liue your selues without?'Why should your fellowship a trouble be,'Since man's chiefe pleasure is societie?
'How doth Confusion's mother, headlong Chance,[196]'Put Reason's noble squadron to the rout?'Or how should you that haue the gouernance'Of Nature's children, Heauen and Earth throughout,'Prescribe them rules, and liue your selues without?'Why should your fellowship a trouble be,'Since man's chiefe pleasure is societie?
33.
'If sence hath not yet taught you, learne of me'A comely moderation and discreet;'That your assemblies may well ordered bee'When my vniting power shall make you meet,'With heau'nly tunes it shall be temperèd sweet:'And be the modell of the World's great frame,'And you Earth's children,Dauncingshall it name.
'If sence hath not yet taught you, learne of me'A comely moderation and discreet;'That your assemblies may well ordered bee'When my vniting power shall make you meet,'With heau'nly tunes it shall be temperèd sweet:'And be the modell of the World's great frame,'And you Earth's children,Dauncingshall it name.
34.
'Behold theWorld, how it iswhirled round,'And for it is sowhirl'd, is namèd so;'In whose large volume many rules are found'Of this new Art, which it doth fairely show;'For your quicke 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.
'Behold theWorld, how it iswhirled round,'And for it is sowhirl'd, is namèd so;'In whose large volume many rules are found'Of this new Art, which it doth fairely show;'For your quicke 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[197]you see fixt in this huge mirrour blew,'Of trembling lights, a number numberlesse:[198]'Fixt they arenam'd, but with a name vntrue,'For they all mooue[199]and in a Daunce expresse'Thatgreat long yeare, that doth containe no lesse'Then threescore hundreds of those yeares in all,'Which the sunne makes with his course naturall.
'First[197]you see fixt in this huge mirrour blew,'Of trembling lights, a number numberlesse:[198]'Fixt they arenam'd, but with a name vntrue,'For they all mooue[199]and in a Daunce expresse'Thatgreat long yeare, that doth containe no lesse'Then threescore hundreds 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 beene scattered there?'The gods a solemne measure doe it deeme,'And see a iust proportion euery where,'And know the points whence first their mouings were;'To which first points when all returne againe,'The axel-tree of Heau'n shall breake in twaine.
'What if to you these sparks disordered seeme'As if by chaunce they had beene scattered there?'The gods a solemne measure doe it deeme,'And see a iust proportion euery where,'And know the points whence first their mouings were;'To which first points when all returne againe,'The axel-tree of Heau'n shall breake in twaine.
37.
'Vnder that spangled skye, fiue wandring flames[200]'Besides 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 aduance,'And by it selfe each doth a galliard[201]daunce.
'Vnder that spangled skye, fiue wandring flames[200]'Besides 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 aduance,'And by it selfe each doth a galliard[201]daunce.
38.
'Venus, the mother of that bastard Loue,'Which doth vsurpe the World's great Marshal's name,'Iust with the sunne her dainty feete doth moue,'And vnto him doth all the iestures frame;'Now after, now afore, the flattering Dame,'With diuers cunning passages doth erre,'Still him respecting that respects not her.
'Venus, the mother of that bastard Loue,'Which doth vsurpe the World's great Marshal's name,'Iust with the sunne her dainty feete doth moue,'And vnto him doth all the iestures frame;'Now after, now afore, the flattering Dame,'With diuers cunning passages doth erre,'Still him respecting that respects not her.
39.