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(A Masque of Prince Henry)
by
Ben Jonson
1st Satyr: Chromis! Mnnasil! None appear? See you not who riseth here? You saw Silenus late, I fear! I'll prove if this can reach your ear.He wound his cornet and thought himself answered, but was deceived by the echo.
O, you wake then! Come away, Times be short, are made for play; The hum'rous moon too will not stay; What doth make you thus delay? Hath his tankard touched your brain? Sure, they're fall'n asleep again; Or I doubt it was the vain Echo did me entertain. Prove again-- I thought 'twas she! Idle nymph, I pray thee, be Modest, and not follow me; I nor love myself nor thee.Here he wound the third time and was answered by another satyr, who likewise showed himself. To which he spoke,
Aye, this sound I better know; List! I would I could hear mo.At this they came running forth severally from divers parts of the rock, leaping and making antic action and gestures, to the number of ten, some of them speaking, some admiring; and amongst them a silene, who is ever the prefect of the satyrs, and so presented in all their chori and meetings.
2nd satyr: Thank us, and you shall do so. 3rd satyr: Aye, our number soon will grow. 2nd satyr: See Silenus! 3rd satyr: Cercops too! 4th satyr: yes. What is there now to do? 5th satyr: Are there any nymphs to woo? 4th satyr: If there be, let me have two. Silenus: Chaster language! These are nights Solemn to the shining rites Of the fairy prince and knights While the moon their orgies lights. 2nd satyr: Will they come abroad anon? 3rd satyr: Shall we see youn Oberon? 4th satyr: Is he such a princely one As you spake him long agone? Silenus: Satyrs, he doth fill with grace Every seaso, every place; Beauty dwells but in his face; He's the height of all our race. Our Pan's father, god of tongue, Bacchus, though he still be young, Phoebus, when he crowned sung, Nor Mars when first his armour rung Might with him be named that day. He is lovelier than in May Is the spring, and there can stay As little as he can decay. Chorus: O that he would come away! 3rd satyr: Grandsire, we shall leave to play With Lyaeus now, and serve Only Ob'ron? Silenus He'll deserve All you can, and more, my boys. 4th satyr: Will he give us pretty toys To beguile the girls withal? 3rd satyr: And to make 'em quickly fall? Silenus: Peace, my wantons; he will do More than you can aim unto. 4th satyr: Will he build us larger caves? Silenus: Yes, and give you ivory staves When you hunt, and better wine-- 1st satyr: Than the master of the vine? 2nd satyr: And rich prizes to be won When we leap or when we run? 1st satyr: Aye, and gild our cloven feet? 3rd satyr: Strew our heads with powders sweet? 1st Satyr: Bind our crooked legs in hoops Made of shells with silver loops? 2nd satyr: Tie about our tawny wrists Bracelets of the fairy twists? 4th satyr: And to spite the coy nymphs' scorns, Hang upon our stubbed horns Garlands, ribands, and fine posies-- 3rd satyr: Fresh as when the flower discloses? 1st satyr: Yes, and stick our pricking ears With the pearl that Tethys wears. 2nd satyr: And to answer all things else, Trap our shaggy thighs with bells, That as we do strike a time In our dance shall make a chime-- 3rd satyr: Louder than the rattling pipes Of the wood-gods-- 1st satyr: Or the stripes Of the tabor when we carry Bacchus up, his pomp to vary. Chorus: O that he so long doth tarry! Silenus: See, the rock begins to ope! Now you shall enjoy your hope; 'Tis about the hour, I know.There the whole scene opened, and within was discovered the frontispiece of a bright and glorious palace, whose gates and walls were transparent. Before the gate lay two sylvans, armed with their clubs and dressed in leaves, asleep. At this, the satyrs wondering, Silenus proceeds,
Look! does not his palace show Like another sky of lights? Yonder with him live the knights Once the noblest of the earth, Quickened by a second birth, Who for prowess and for truth There are crowned with lasting youth, And do hold, by Fate's command, Seats of bliss in fairyland. But their guards, methings, do sleep! Let us wake 'em. Sirs you keep Proper watch, that thus do lie Drowned in sloth! 1st satyr: They ha'ne'er an eye To wake withal. 2nd satyr: NNor sense, I fear; For they sleep in either ear. 3rd satyr: Holla, sylvans! Sure they're caves Of sleep, these, or else they're graves! 4th satyr: Hear you, friennds, who keeps the keepers? 1st satyr: They're the eighth and ninth sleepers! 2nd satyr: Shall we cramp 'em? Silenus: Satyrs, no. 3rd satyr: Would we'd Boreas here to blow Off their leavy coats and strip 'em. 4th satyr: Aye, aye, aye; that we might whip 'em! 3rd satyr: Or that we'd a waspor two For their nostrils! 1st satyr: Hairs will do Even as well; take my tail. 2nd satyr: What d'you say t'a good nail Through their temples? 3rd satyr: Or an eel In their guts, to make 'em feel? 4th satyr: Shall we steal away their beards? 3rd satyr: For Pan's goat, that leads the herds? 2nd satyr: Or try whether is more dead, His club, or th'other's head? Silenus: Wags, no more; you grow too bold. 1st satyr: I would fain nnow see 'em rolled Down a hill, or from a bridge Headlong cast, to break their ridge- Bones; or to some river take 'em Plump, and see if that would wake'em. 2nd satyr: There no motion yet appears. Silenus: Strike a charm into their ears.At which the satyrs fell suddenly into this catch.
Buzz, quoth the blue fly, Hum, quoth the bee; Buzz and hum they cry, And so do wee. In his ear, in his nose, Thus, do you see? He ate the dormouse Else it was he.The two sylvans started up amazed and betaking themselves to their arms were thus questioned by Silenus.
Silenus: How now, sylvans! can you wake? I commend the care you take I' your watch. Is this your guise, To have both your ears and eyes Sealed so fastas these mine elves Might have stol'n from yourselfs? 3rd satyr: We had thought we must have got Stakes, and heated 'em red-hot And bored you through the eyes, With the Cyclops, ere you'd rise. 2nd satyr: Or have fetched some trees to heave Up your bulks, and so did cleave To the ground there. 4th satyr: Are you free Yet of sleep, and can you see Who is yonder up aloof? 1st satyr: Be your eyes yet moon-proof? Sylvan: Satyrs, leave your petulance, And go frisk about and dance, Or else rail upon the moon; Your expectance is too soon. For before the second cock Crow, the gates will not unlock; And till then we know we keep Guard enough, although we sleep. 1st satyr: Say you so? then let us fall To a song or to a brawl. Shall we, grandsire? Let us sport, And make expectation short. Silenus: Do, my wanntons, what you please. I'll lie down and take mine ease. 1st satyr: Brothers, sing then, and upbraid, As we use, yond' seeming made. SONG Now, my cunning lady, moon Can you leave the side so soon Of the boy you keep so hid? Midwife June sure will say That is not the proper way Of your paleness to be rid. But perhaps it is your grace To wear sickness i' your face, That there might be wagers laid Still, by fools, your are a maid. Come, your changes overthrow What your look would carry so; Moon, confess then what you are. And be wise, and free to use Pleasures that you now do lose; Let us satyrs have a share. Though our forms be rough and rude, Yet our acts may be endued With more virtue; everyone Cannot be Enymion.The song ended, they fell suddenly into an anntic dance full of gesture and swift motion, and continued till the crowing of the cock, at which they were interrupted by Silenus.
Silenus: Stay, the cheerful chanticleer Tells you that the time is near. See, the gates already spread! Every satyr bow his head.There the whole palace opened, and the nation of fays were discovered, some with instrumentns, some bearing lights, others singing; and within, afar off in perspective, the nights masquers sitting in their several sieges. At the further end of all, Oberon, in a chariot, which to a loud triumphant music began to move forward, drawn by two white bearss, and on either side guarded by theree sylvans, with one going in front.
SONG Melt earth to sea, sea flow to air, And air fly into fire, Whilst we inn tunes to Arthur's chair Bear Oberon's desire, Than which there nothing can be higher, Save James, to whom it flies; But he the wonder is of tongues, of ears, of eyes. Who hath not heard, who hath not seen, Who hath not sung his nname? The soul that hath not, hath not beenn; But is the very same With buried sloth, and knows not fame, Which doth him best comprise; For he the wonder is of tongues, of ears, of eyes.By this time the chariot was come as far forth as the face of the scene; and the satyrs beginning to leap and express their joy for the unnused state and solemnity, the foremost sylvan began to speak.
Sylvan: Give place and silence; you were rude too late. This is a night of greatness and of state, Not to be mixed with light and skipping sport; A night of homage to the British court, And ceremony due to Arthur's chair, From our bright master, Oberon the fair; Who with these knights, attendants, here preserved In fairyland, for good they have deserved Of yond' high throne, are come of right to pay Their annual vows; with all their glories lay At feet, and tender to this only great True majesty, restored in this seat; To whose sole power and magic they do give The honor of their being, that they live Sustained in form, fame and felicity, From rage of fortue or the fear to die. Silenus: And may they well. For this indeed is he, My boys, who you must quake at when you see. He is above your reach, and neither doth Nor can he think within a satyr's tooth. Before his presence you must fall or fly. He is the matter of virtue, and placed high. His meditations to his height are even, and all their issue is akin to heaven. He is a god o'er kings, yet stoops he then Nearest a man when he doth govern men, To teach them by the sweetness of his sway, And not by foce. He's such a king as they Who're tyrans' subjects, or ne'er tasted peace, Would in their wishes, form for their release. 'Tis he that stays the time from turning old, And keeps the age up in a head of gold; That in his own true circle still doth run, And holds his course as certain as the sun. He makes it ever day and ever spring Where he doth shine, and quickens everything Like a new nature; so that true to call Him by his title is to say, he's all. Sylvan: I thank the wise Silenus for this praise. Stand forth, bright fays and elves, and tuen your lays Unto his name; then let your nimble feet Tread subtle circles that may always meet In point to him, and figures to express The grace of him and his great empress; That all that shall tonight behold the rites Performed by princely Oberon and these knights, May without stop point out the proper heir Designed so long to Arthur's crowns and chair. THE SONG, BY TWO FAYS 1st fay: Seek you majesty, to strike? Bid the world produce his like. 2nd fay: Seek you glory, to amaze? Here let all eyes stand at gaze. Both: Seek you wisdom, to inspire? Touch then at no other's fire. 1st fay: Seek you knowledge, to direct? Trust to his withour suspect. 2nd fay: Seek you piety, to lead? In his footsteps only tread. Chorus: Every virtue of a king, And of all in him we sing.Then the lesser fays dance forth their dance; which ended, a full song follows by all the voices.
SONG The solemn rites are well begun, And though but lighted by the moon, They show as rich as if the sun Had made this night his noon. But may none wonder that they are so bright; The moonn now borrows from a greater light. Then princely Oberon, Go on, That is not every night.There Oberon and the nknights dance out the first masque dance, which was followed with this song.
SONG Nay, nay, You must not stay, Nor be weary yet; This's no time to cast away, Or for fays so to forget The virtue of their feet. Knotty legs and plants of clay Seek for ease, or love delay, But with you it still should fare As with the air of which you are.After which they dannced forth their second masque dance, and were again excited by a song.
SONG 1st fay: Nor yet, nor yet, O you in this ight blessed, Must you have will or hope to rest. 2nnd fay: If you use the smallest stay, You'll be overta'en by day. 1st fay: And these beauties will suspect That their forms you do neglect If you do not call them forth. 2nd fay: Or that you have no more worth Than the coarse and country fairy That doth haunt the hearth or dairy.Then followed the measures, corantos, galliards, etc., till Phosphorus, the day star, appeared and called them away; but first they were invited home by one of the sylvans with this song.
SONG Gentle knights, Kow some measure of your nights. Tell the high-graced Oberon It is time that we were gone. Here be forms so bright and airy, And their motions so they vary As they will enchant the fairy, If you longner here should tarry. Phosphorus: To rest, to rest! the herald of the day, Bright Phosphorus, commands you hence; obey. The moon is pale and spent, and winged night Makes headlonng haste to fly the morning's sight, Who now is risinng from her blushing wars, And with her rosy hand puts back the stars; Of which myself the last, her harbringner, But stay to warn you that you not defer Your parting longer. Then do I give way, As night hath done, and so must you, to day.After this they dancned their last dance into the work; and with a full song, the star vanished, and the whole machine closed.
SONG O yet how early, and before her time, The envious mornign up doth climb, Though she not love her bed! What haste the jealous sun doth make His fiery horses up to take, And once more show his head! Lest, taken with the brightnenss of this night, The world should wish it last, and never miss his light.