Following the entrance of Vulturnus, bringing--in reference to the
former “Masque of Blackness”--the good news of his discovery of a
lost isle whereon the black but lovely daughters of Niger had been
languishing in obscurity, there came a fine pageant.
“Here,” as Jonson’s stage directions describe it, “a curtain was
drawn in which the night was painted, and the scene was discovered
which (because the former was marine, and these, yet of necessity, to
come from the sea) I devised should be an island floating on a calm
water. In the midst thereof was a Seat of State, called the Throne
of Beauty, erected; divided into eight squares, and distinguished
by so many Ionic pilasters. In these squares, the sixteen masquers
were placed by couples; behind them in the centre of the throne
was a tralucent pillar, shining with several coloured lights, that
reflected on their backs. From the top of which pillar went several
arches to the pilasters, in front, little Cupids in flying posture,
waving of wreaths and lights, bore up the cornice; over which were
eight figures, representing the elements of Beauty, which advanced
upon the Ionic, and, being females, had the Corinthian order.”
They were: Splendour, Serenitas, Germinatio, Lætitia, Temperies,
Venustas, Dignitas, and Perfectio. Minute description is given of
their garments, but is too lengthy for inclusion here. The stage
directions then proceed:
“On the top of all the throne (as being made out of all these)
stood HARMONIA, a personage whose dressing had something of all
the others, and had her robe painted full of figures. Her head was
compassed with a crown of gold, having in it seven jewels equally
set. In her hand a lyra, whereon she rested.
“This was the ornament of the throne. The ascent to which,
consisting of six steps, was covered with a multitude of Cupids
(chosen out of the best and most ingenious youth in the kingdom,
noble and others) that were torch-bearers; and all armed with bows,
quivers, wings, and other ensigns of love. On the sides of the
throne were curious and elegant arbours appointed; and behind, in
the back part of the isle, a grove of grown trees laden with golden
fruit, which other little Cupids plucked, and threw at each other,
whilst on the ground, leverets picked up the bruised apples and
left them half eaten. The ground-plat of the whole was a subtle
indented maze; and in the two foremost angles were two fountains
that ran continually, the one Hebe’s and the other Hedone’s; in the
arbours were placed the musicians, who represented the shades of
the old poets, and were attired in a priest-like habit of crimson
and purple, with laurel garlands.
“The colours of the masques were varied; the one half in orange
tawny and silver; the other in sea-green and silver. The bodies of
short skirts on white and gold to both.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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