he knows the honourable lord, had he been so blest as to have seen him at his lodge, would have stretcht in observance, though he could not in love and zeal." 1 "Thus much," the 4to adds, "which was the least of the Entertainment in respect of the reality, abundance, delicacy, and order of all things else, to do that serviceable right to his noble friend, which his affection owes, and his lordship's merit may challenge, the author hath suffered to come out, and encounter censure; and not here unnecessarily adjoined, being per-prophetic, Jonson lived to see, and perhaps formed to the same Queen and Prince, who were to deplore for Prince Henry was a youth of no little part of these more laboured and great promise. triumphal shows. And to whose greatest part It would be unjust to the author to conclude without noticing the merits of this singularly elegant and poetic address. That it was not The Penates. THE PENATES.] Sir William Cornwallis, at whose house this exquisite little drama (which I have called the Penates) was presented, was the elder brother of Sir Charles Cornwallis, who, on the establishment of Prince Henry's household, was appointed his treasurer, and son of Sir Thomas Cornwallis, of Brome Hall, in Suffolk. He accompanied the Earl of Essex in his expedition against the rebels in Ireland in 1599, and was knighted the same year at Dublin. The title in the folio is as follows: A Private Entertainment of the King and Queen, on May-day in the morning, at Sir William Cornwallis his House, at Highgate, 1604." Here the Penates lead them in, thorough the house, into the garden, where Mercury received them, walking before them. Mer. Retire, you household-gods, and leave these excellent creatures to be entertained by a more eminent deity. [Exeunt Pen.] Hail, King and Queen of the Islands, called truly Fortunate, and by you made so. To tell you who I am, and wear all these notable and speaking ensigns about me, were to challenge you of most impossible ignorance, and accuse myself of as palpable glory: it is enough that you know me here, and come with the licence this Song in three parts. See, see, O see who here is come a The master of the ocean; On them, that gods no less than men amaze. Up, nightingale, and sing The welcome of the king; of my father Jove, who is the bounty of Here Aurora, Zephyrus, and Flora began heaven, to give you early welcome to the bower of my mother Maia, no less the goodness of earth. And may it please you to walk, I will tell you no wonderful story. This place, whereon you are now advanced (by the mighty power of poetry, and the help of a faith that can remove mountains) is the Arcadian hill Cyllene, the place where myself was both begot and born: and of which I am frequently called Cyllenius. Under yond purslane tree stood sometime my cradle. Where now behold my mother Maia, sitting in the pride of their plenty, gladding the air with her breath, and cheering the spring with her smiles. At her feet the blushing Aurora, who, with her rosy hand, casteth her honey-dews on those sweeter herbs, accompanied with that gentle wind Favonius, whose subtile spirit, in the breathing forth, Flora makes into flowers, and sticks them in the grass, as if she contended to have the embroidery of the earth richer than the cope of the sky. Here, for her month, the yearly delicate May keeps state; and from this mount takes pleasure to display these valleys, yond lesser hills, those statelier edifices and towers, that seem enamoured so far off, and are reared on end to behold her, as if their utmost object were her beauties. Hither the Dryads of the valley and nymphs of the great river come every morning to taste of her favours; and depart away with laps filled with her bounties. But see! upon your approach their pleasures are instantly remitted. The birds are hushed, Zephyr is still, the morn forbears her office, Flora is dumb, and herself amazed, to behold two such marvels, that do more adorn place than she can time: pardon, your majesty, the fault, for it is that hath caused it; and till they can collect their spirits, think silence and wonder the best adoration. Or spirit that Zephyre ever blew.] i.e., breath. It may not be amiss to notice here, once for all, that our old poets, with few exceptions, pronounced this word as if it were written sprite. It rarely occurs as a dissyllable in the writers of Jonson's age. Whose like were never seen, Nor can be; though fresh May, No, though she should invite a several Which ended, Maia (seated in her bower, with all those personages about her as before described began to raise herself, and then declining, spake. Mai. If all the pleasures were distilled in obloquy after them, that this great poet had neither harmony nor grace; and that his writings exhibit little besides scraps of murdered ancients," and "clumsy sarcasms Shakspeare!" on It is to the credit of Milton's taste that he There is scarcely to be found in the compass has borrowed largely from this Entertainment; of English verse, a piece of equal brevity, that his obligations to Jonson are indeed incessant; for richness, melody, elegance, and taste, can and his editors might be more judiciously embe at all compared with this gay lyrical effusion.ployed in pointing some of them out, than in How long will the readers of our old poets running upon every occasion to the Italian suffer themselves to be misled by wanton male- writers, of whom he probably knew nothing, at volence, and believe, on the faith of Steevens the time he is suspected of copying them from Malone, &c., with the stupid herd that nuzzle | line to line and from word to word. Yet all diffused upon this bower, To dance their wilder rounds about, Wherewith, whilst they your round, temples An air of several birds shall sound All this, and more than I have gift of saying, May vows, so you will oft come here a maying. Mer. And Mercury, her son, shall venture the displeasure of his father, with the whole bench of heaven, that day, but he will do his mothers intents all serviceable assistance. Till then, and ever, live high and happy, you, and your other you; both envied for your fortunes, loved for your graces, and admired for your virtues. [This was the morning's entertain ment. After dinner, the King and Queen coming again into the garden, Mercury the second time accosted them. Mer. Again, great pair, I salute you; and How say you, great master?] This part of the Entertainment was after dinner, when more freedom was allowed. We should also recollect that it was presented on May-day, a great holi with leave of all the gods, whose high pleasure it is that Mercury make this your holiday. May all the blessings, both of earth and heaven, concur to thank you for till this day's sun I have faintly enjoyed a minute's rest to my creation. Now I do, and acknowledge it your sole, and no less than divine benefit. If my desire to delight you might not divert to your trouble, I would intreat your eyes to a new and strange spectacle; a certain son of mine, whom the Arcadians call a god, howsoever the rest of the world receive him: it is the horned Pan, whom in the translated figure of a goat I begot on the fair Spartan Penelope. May, let both your ears and looks forgive it; these are but the lightest escapes of our deities. And it is better in me to prevent his rustic impudence, by my blushing acknowledgment, than anon by his rude and not insolent claim, be inforced to confess him. Yonder he keeps, and with him the wood nymphs, whose leader he is in rounds and dances, to this sylvan music. The place about which they skip is the fount of laughter, or Bacchus' spring; whose statue is advanced on the top; and from whose pipes, at an observed hour of the day, there flows a lusty liquor, that hath the present virtue to expel sadness; and within certain minutes after it is tasted, force all the mirth of the spleen into the face. Of this is Pan the guardian. Lo! the fountain begins to run, but the nymphs at your sight are fled, Pan and his satyrs wildly stand at gaze. I will approach and question him: vouchwhich even to me, that am his parent, will safe your ear, and forgive his behaviour, no doubt be rude enough, though otherwise full of salt, which except my presence did temper, might turn to be gall and bitterness; but that shall charm him. Pan. O, it is Mercury! hollow them agen. What be all these, father, gods or men? Mer. All human. Only these two are deities on earth, but such as the greatest powers of heaven may resign to. Pan. Why did our nymphs run away, can you tell? master? Here be sweet beauties love Mercury well; I see by their looks. How say you, great [Advances to the king. Will you please to hear? shall I be your taster? day in the city, and admitting, from time immemorial, of great familiarity among all ranks. It appears that a fountain in the garden, which was decorated and laid out for the occasion, and shall pass. Were he a king, and his mistress a queen, This draught shall make him a petulant spleen. But trow, is he loose, or costive of laughter? I'd know, to fill him his glass thereafter. Sure either my skill or my sight doth mock, Or this lording's look should not care for the smock; And yet he should love both a horse and a hound, And not rest till he saw his game on the ground: Well, look to him, dame; beshrew me, were I 'Mongst these bonnibells, you should need a good eye. Here, mistress; all out. Since a god is your skinker : By my hand, I believe you were born a good drinker. They are things of no spirit, their blood is asleep, That, when it is offered them, do not drink deep. Come, who is next? our liquor here cools. Ladies, I'm sure, you all have not fools Of lord for her laughter, will you more? have What answer you, lordings? will you any or none?" Laugh, and be fat, sir, your penance is known. They that love mirth, let them heartily drink, 'Tis the only receipt to make sorrow sink. The young nymph that's troubled with an old man, Let her laugh him away as fast as he can. Nay, drink, and not pause, as who would say, Must you? But laugh at the wench that next doth trust you. flowed with wine; from this Pan filled his glasses, and carried them round to the company. James was accompanied by the lords and ladies of his Court; others were probably introduced by Sir William: but whoever they might be, they were known to Jonson (who was always present on these occasions), and much merriment was unquestionably excited by the characteristic traits with which Pan prefaced the tender of the wine They are excellent sponges to drink up your laughter. Farewell, I must seek out my nymphs, that you frighted; Thank Hermes, my father, if aught have delighted. [Exit. Mer. I am sure thy last rudeness cannot; for it makes me seriously ashamed. I will not labour his excuse, since I know you more ready to pardon than he to trespass : but for your singular patience, tender you all abundance of thanks; and, mixing with the master of the place in his wishes, make them my divinations. That your loves be ever flourishing as May, and your house as fruitful: that your acts exceed the best, and your years the longest of your predecessors: that no bad fortune touch you, nor good change you. But still, that you triumph in this facility over the ridiculous pride of other princes; and for ever live safe in the love, rather than the fear, of your subjects. AND THUS IT ENDED. to every guest. The king is very strongly marked: in the address to the queen, there is an allusion to her Danish extraction. The humour of the rest is lost to us, as we cannot appropriate the circumstances. A forsooth of the city.] By this petty oath, which was probably familiar to the merchants' and tradesmen's wives, the city ladies are characterized in many of our old dramas. |