Touchstone. I durst go no further than the "lie circumstantial," nor he durst not give me the "lie direct"; and so we measured swords and parted. Jaques. Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? Touchstone. O sir, we quarrel in print; by the book, as you have books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. The first, the "retort courteous"; the second, the "quip modest" the third, the "reply churlish”; the fourth, the "reproof valiant"; the fifth, the "countercheck quarrelsome"; the sixth, the "lie with circumstance"; the seventh, the "lie direct." All these you may avoid but the lie direct; and you may avoid that too with an "if." I knew when seven justices could not take up a quarrel; but when the parties were met themselves, one of them thought but of an "if," as If you said So, then I said so"; and they shook hands, and swore brothers. Your "if" is the only peace maker; much virtue in "if." §3. Masques at Court As You Like It, v. iv. 40—109 Duke Theseus. Come now; what masques, what dances shall we have, Philostrate. Philostrate. Say, what abridgment have you for this evening ? Masques in honour of the marriage of Princess Elizabeth, And that night, in honour of this joyful nuptial, there was a very stately masque of lords and ladies, with many ingenious. speeches, delicate devices, melodious music, plea ant dances, with other princely entertainments of time, all which were singularly well performed in the Banqueting-house. The four honourable Inns of Court, as well the elders and grave benchers of each house as the towardly young active gallant gentlemen of the same houses, being of infinite desire to express their singular love and duteous affection to his Majesty, and to perform some memorable and acceptable service worthy their own reputation, in honour of this nuptial, and thereupon with great expedition they jointly and severally consulted and agreed amongst themselves to set out two several rich and stately masques, and to perform them bravely, without respect of charge or expenses, and from amongst themselves they selected the most pregnant and active gentlemen to be their masquers, who, to the lasting honour of themselves and their societies, performed all things as worthily. They employed the best wits and skilfullest artisans in devising, composing and erecting their several strange properties, excellent speeches, pleasant devices and delicate music, brave in habit, rich in ornaments, in demeanour courtly, in their going by land and water very stately and orderly: all which, with their rare inventions and variable entertainments of time, were such as the like was never performed in England by any society, and was now as graciously accepted of by his Majesty, the Queen, the Prince, the bride and bridegroom, from whom they received all princely thanks and encouragement. Concerning which two masques, with the multiplicity of devices, depending upon those entertainments of time, though I may not set down the particulars, nor say all I ought in their deserving commendations, by reason it would require a very large discourse, yet for distinction sake I will briefly set down their several times and order of going to the court. Upon Shrove Monday at night, the gentlemen of the Middle Temple and Lincoln's Inn, with their train for this business, assembled in Chancery Lane, at the house of Sir Edward Philips, Master of the Rolls, and about eight of the clock they marched thence through the Strand, to the court at Whitehall, in this manner. First rode fifty choice gentlemen richly attired, and as gallantly mounted, with every one his footman to attend him; these rode very stately like a vanguard. Next after, with fit distance, marched an antic or mock-masque of baboons, attired like fantastic travellers in very strange and confused manner, riding upon asses or dwarf jades, using all apish and mocking tricks to the people, moving much laughter as they passed with torches on either side to shew their state to be as ridiculous as the rest was noble. After them came two chariots triumphal, very pleasant and full of state, wherein rode the choice musicians of this kingdom, in robes like to the Virginian priests, with sundry devices, all pleasant and significant, with two ranks of torches. Then came the chief masquers with great state in white Indian habit or like the great princes of Barbary, richly embroidered with the golden sun, with suitable ornaments in all points; about their necks were ruffs of feathers, spangled and beset with pearl and silver, and upon their heads lofty coronets suitable to the rest. They wore long silk stockings, curiously embroidered with gold to the mid-leg. Their buskins were likewise embroidered, and in their hands, as they rode, they brandished cane darts of the finest gold: their vizards were of olive colour, their hair long and black, down to their shoulders. The horses for rich shew equalled the masquers: their caparisons were enchased with suns of gold and ornamental jewels, with silver, scarfing over the whole caparison and about their heads, which made such a strange and glorious show, that it dazzled the eyes of the beholders with great admiration. Every of these horses had two Moors to attend them, attired like Indian slaves, with wreaths of gold and watshod about their heads, being about an hundred in number. The torch-bearers carried torches of virgin wax, the staves whereof were great canes gilded all over, and their habits were likewise of the Indian garb, but more extravagant than those of the masquers. The masquers rode single, and had every man his torch-bearer riding before him. All which, with the last triumphal chariot, wherein sat many strange attired personages, with their emblems, conceitful and variable devices, made a wondrous pleasing show. And thus they marched through the Strand to Whitehall, where the King, the Prince, the bride and bridegroom, and the chief nobility stood in the gallery before the tilt-yard to behold their approach; and because there should be a full view had of their state and train, the King caused them to march one turn about the list; and being dismounted, they were honourably attended through the gallery to a chamber, in which they were to make them ready for performance of their scene in the hall; in which place were erected their sundry properties and devices, formerly mentioned, where they performed all things answerable to the best of expectation, and received as royal thanks and commendations. The next day being Shrove Tuesday, the gentlemen of the Inner Temple and Gray's Inn, with their train and many other gallant young gentlemen of both these houses as their convoy, assembled themselves at Winchester House, being the appointed place for their rendezvous. This night's entertainment consisted of three several masques, viz. an antimasque of a strange and different fashion from others, both in habit and manners, and very delectable; a rural or country masque consisting of many persons, men and women, being all in sundry habits, being likewise as strange, variable and delightful; the third, which they called the main masque, was a masque of knights, attired in arming doublets of carnation satin, richly embroidered with stars of silver plate beset with smaller stars, spangles and silver lace, between gorgets of silver mail, with long Venetian hose embroidered suitable to the rest, silk carnation stockings embroidered all over, their garters and roses answerable. Their hats were of the same stuff and embroidered, cut before like a helmet and the hinder part like a scallop, answering the skirts of their doublets; their hat-bands were wreaths of silver, in form of garlands of wild olives; their feathers white and carnation; their belts embroidered, silver swords, little Italian falling-bands and cuffs embroidered; their hair fair and long; their vizards fair and young; and concerning their sundry ingenious properties and devices already erected in the court hall, they were all excellent, fraught with art, state and delights, having all their actors correspondent. These masquers, with their whole train in all triumphant manner and good order, took barge at Winchester stairs, about seven of the clock that night, and rowed to Whitehall against the tide. The chief masquers went in the King's barge royally adorned, and plenteously furnished with a great number of great war-lights, that they alone made a glorious show. Other gentlemen went in the Prince's barge, and certain other went in other fair barges, and were led by two admirals. Besides all these, they had four lusty warlike galleys to convoy and attend them. Each barge and galley, being replenished with store of torch-lights, made so rare and brave a show upon the water as the like was never seen upon the Thames. They had three peals of great ordnance in three several places upon the shore, viz. when they embarked, as they past by the Temple, and at Strangate when they arrived at court, where the King, Prince Charles, the bride and bridegroom, stood in the upper gallery to behold them upon the water and to view them in particular at their arrival. They landed at the privy stairs, and were received by the Lord Chamberlain and conducted to the vestry, for the hall wherein they should perform their scene was by this time filled with company: who although they were of very good fashion, yet were there many principal ladies and other noble personages, besides ambassadors and other strangers of account, not come, so as when they should be placed, the room would be so scanted, as it would prove very inconvenient; whereupon his Majesty was most graciously pleased, with consent of the gentlemen masquers, to put it off until the next Saturday, and that then they should perform all their present intended entertainments in the great Banquetinghouse, adding this favour withal, that this deferring should be no impediment unto the outward ceremony of magnificence until that day. And upon Saturday, at seven of the clock at night, they came privately in troop, and were brought to their places by the Earl of Northampton, and a choice room was reserved for the gentlemen of both these houses; and that night they bravely performed their scene, to the great delight, and full satisfaction of all the beholders; and from his Majesty they received as kingly thanks, and gracious acceptation. EDMOND HOWES, Annales 1615 §4. The Death of Queen Elizabeth Within the hollow crown That rounds the mortal temples of a king To monarchize, be fear'd and kill with looks: Bores through his castle-wall, and farewell, king! |