The Inner Temple Masque, The - Third Scene
Description. Circe with this speech delivering her wand to Ulysses rests on the lower part of the hill, while he going up the hill and striking the trees with his wand, suddenly two great gates flew open, making as it were a large glade through the wood, and along the glade a fair walk; two seeming brick walls on either side, over which the trees wantonly hung: a great light (as the sun's sudden unmasking) being seen upon this discovery. At the further end was descried an arbour, very curiously done, having one entrance under an architrave borne up by two pillars with their chapters and bases gilt; the top of the entrance beautified with postures of satyrs, wood-nymphs, and other antick work; as also the sides and corners: the covering archwise interwove with boughs, the back of it girt round with a vine, and artificially done up in knots towards the top; beyond it was a wood seen in perspective, the fore part of it opening at Ulysses his approach; the maskers were discovered in several seats leaning as asleep .
THEIR ATTIRE . Doublets of green taffeta, cut like oaken leaves, as upon cloth of silver; their skirts and wings cut into leaves, deep round hose of the same, both laid with sprig lace spangled; long white silk stockings; green pumps, and roses done over with silver leaves; hats of the same stuff, cut narrow-brimmed, and rising smaller compass at the crown, white wreath hatbands, white plumes, egrettes with a green fall, ruff, bands and cuffs . Ulysses severally came and touched every one of them with the wand while this was sung:
Song .
S HAKE off sleep, ye worthy knights,
Though ye dream of all delights;
Show that Venus doth resort
To the camp as well as court
By some well-timed measure,
And on your gestures and your paces
Let the well-composed Graces,
Looking like, and part with pleasure. By this the knights being all risen from their seats were by Ulysses ( the loud music sounding ) brought to the stage; and then to the violins danced their first measure; after which this song brought them to the second.
Song .
O N and imitate the Sun,
Stay not to breathe till you have done:
Earth doth think as other where
Do some women she doth bear:
Those wives whose husbands only threaten
Are not lov'd like those are beaten.
Then with your feet to suff'ring move her,
For whilst you beat earth thus, you love her. Here they danced their second measure, and then this song was sung, during which time they take out the ladies:
Song .
C HOOSE now among this fairest number,
Upon whose breasts love would for ever slumber:
Choose not amiss since you may where you will,
Or blame yourselves for choosing ill.
Then do not leave, though oft the music closes,
Till lilies in their cheeks be turn'd to roses.
C HORUS .
And if it lay in Circe's power,
Your bliss might so persever,
That those you choose but for an hour
You should enjoy for ever. The knights with the ladies dance here the old measures, galliards, corantoes, the brawls, &c., and then (having led them again to their places) danced their last measure; after which this song called them away:
Song .
W HO but Time so hasty were
To fly away and leave you here?
Here where delight
Might well allure
A very Stoic from this night
To turn an Epicure.
But since he calls away; and Time will soon repent,
He stay'd not longer here, but ran to be more idly spent.
THEIR ATTIRE . Doublets of green taffeta, cut like oaken leaves, as upon cloth of silver; their skirts and wings cut into leaves, deep round hose of the same, both laid with sprig lace spangled; long white silk stockings; green pumps, and roses done over with silver leaves; hats of the same stuff, cut narrow-brimmed, and rising smaller compass at the crown, white wreath hatbands, white plumes, egrettes with a green fall, ruff, bands and cuffs . Ulysses severally came and touched every one of them with the wand while this was sung:
Song .
S HAKE off sleep, ye worthy knights,
Though ye dream of all delights;
Show that Venus doth resort
To the camp as well as court
By some well-timed measure,
And on your gestures and your paces
Let the well-composed Graces,
Looking like, and part with pleasure. By this the knights being all risen from their seats were by Ulysses ( the loud music sounding ) brought to the stage; and then to the violins danced their first measure; after which this song brought them to the second.
Song .
O N and imitate the Sun,
Stay not to breathe till you have done:
Earth doth think as other where
Do some women she doth bear:
Those wives whose husbands only threaten
Are not lov'd like those are beaten.
Then with your feet to suff'ring move her,
For whilst you beat earth thus, you love her. Here they danced their second measure, and then this song was sung, during which time they take out the ladies:
Song .
C HOOSE now among this fairest number,
Upon whose breasts love would for ever slumber:
Choose not amiss since you may where you will,
Or blame yourselves for choosing ill.
Then do not leave, though oft the music closes,
Till lilies in their cheeks be turn'd to roses.
C HORUS .
And if it lay in Circe's power,
Your bliss might so persever,
That those you choose but for an hour
You should enjoy for ever. The knights with the ladies dance here the old measures, galliards, corantoes, the brawls, &c., and then (having led them again to their places) danced their last measure; after which this song called them away:
Song .
W HO but Time so hasty were
To fly away and leave you here?
Here where delight
Might well allure
A very Stoic from this night
To turn an Epicure.
But since he calls away; and Time will soon repent,
He stay'd not longer here, but ran to be more idly spent.
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