Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10

Name: Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10
Author: Fletcher, John

Fletcher, John

English drama

_Shake off your heavy traunce,_
      _And leape into a daunce,_
    _Such as no mortals use to treade,_
          _Fit only for_ Apollo
    _To play to, for the Moone to lead,_
          _And all the Starres to follow._

                      The Knights by this time are all descended and
                          fallen into their place, and then daunce
                          their first Measure.

                  The second Song.

    _On blessed youthes, for_ Jove _doth pause_
      _Laying aside his graver lawes_
          _For this device,_
    _And at the wedding such a paire,_
    _Each daunce is taken for a praier,_
          _Each song a sacrifice._

                The Knights daunce their second Measure.

                The third Song.

                    Single.

    _More pleasing were these sweet delights,_
    _If Ladies mov'd as well as Knights;_
    _Runne ev'ry one of you and catch_
    _A Nymph in honor of this match;_
    _And whisper boldly in her eare,_
    _Jove will but laugh, if you forsweare._

                            All.

        _And this dayes sinnes he doth resolve_
        _That we his Priests should all absolve._

                      The Knights take their Ladies to daunce with them
                          Galliards, Durets, Corantoes, &c. and leade
                          them to their places. Then loude Musicke
                          sound's, supposed to call them to their
                          _Olympian_ games.

                  The fourth Song.

    _Ye should stay longer if we durst,_
    _Away, alas that he that first_
    _Gave Time wilde wings to fly away,_
    _Hath now no power to make him stay._
    _But though these games must needs be plaid,_
    _I would this Paire, when they are laid,_
          _And not a creature nie them,_
    _Could catch his scythe, as he doth passe,_
    _And cut his wings, and breake his glasse,_
          _And keepe him ever by them._

                      The Knights daunce their parting Measure and
                          ascend, put on their Swords and Belts, during
                          which time the Priests sing the fifth and
                          last Song.

    _Peace and silence be the guide_
    _To the Man, and to the Bride,_
    _If there be a joy yet new_
    _In mariage, let it fall on you,_
          _That all the world may wonder._
    _If we should stay, we should doe worse,_
    _And turne our blessing to a curse,_
          _By keeping you asunder._

                                 FINIS.

       =Q= = Quarto.    =A= = First folio.    =B= = Second folio.

p. =281=, l. 6. A] at White-hall l. 12. B] loot l. 21. B] glory, l. 22.
A and B] wing l. 23. A and B] on l. 25. A and B] mad

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10Fletcher, John

General

Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10

Fletcher, John

English drama

_Shake off your heavy traunce,_
      _And leape into a daunce,_
    _Such as no mortals use to treade,_
          _Fit only for_ Apollo
    _To play to, for the Moone to lead,_
          _And all the Starres to follow._

                      The Knights by this time are all descended and
                          fallen into their place, and then daunce
                          their first Measure.

                  The second Song.

    _On blessed youthes, for_ Jove _doth pause_
      _Laying aside his graver lawes_
          _For this device,_
    _And at the wedding such a paire,_
    _Each daunce is taken for a praier,_
          _Each song a sacrifice._

                The Knights daunce their second Measure.

                The third Song.

                    Single.

    _More pleasing were these sweet delights,_
    _If Ladies mov'd as well as Knights;_
    _Runne ev'ry one of you and catch_
    _A Nymph in honor of this match;_
    _And whisper boldly in her eare,_
    _Jove will but laugh, if you forsweare._

                            All.

        _And this dayes sinnes he doth resolve_
        _That we his Priests should all absolve._

                      The Knights take their Ladies to daunce with them
                          Galliards, Durets, Corantoes, &c. and leade
                          them to their places. Then loude Musicke
                          sound's, supposed to call them to their
                          _Olympian_ games.

                  The fourth Song.

    _Ye should stay longer if we durst,_
    _Away, alas that he that first_
    _Gave Time wilde wings to fly away,_
    _Hath now no power to make him stay._
    _But though these games must needs be plaid,_
    _I would this Paire, when they are laid,_
          _And not a creature nie them,_
    _Could catch his scythe, as he doth passe,_
    _And cut his wings, and breake his glasse,_
          _And keepe him ever by them._

                      The Knights daunce their parting Measure and
                          ascend, put on their Swords and Belts, during
                          which time the Priests sing the fifth and
                          last Song.

    _Peace and silence be the guide_
    _To the Man, and to the Bride,_
    _If there be a joy yet new_
    _In mariage, let it fall on you,_
          _That all the world may wonder._
    _If we should stay, we should doe worse,_
    _And turne our blessing to a curse,_
          _By keeping you asunder._

                                 FINIS.

       =Q= = Quarto.    =A= = First folio.    =B= = Second folio.

p. =281=, l. 6. A] at White-hall l. 12. B] loot l. 21. B] glory, l. 22.
A and B] wing l. 23. A and B] on l. 25. A and B] mad

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10

Beaumont and Fletcher's Works, Vol. 10 of 10

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