The clouds descend: while soft music soundeth, Cynthia and Ariadne dismount from their clouds, and, pacing up to the ladies, Cynthia, perceiving Ariadne wanting her crown of stars, speaks thus:-- _Cynth._ But where is Ariadne's wreath of stars, Her eight pure fires that stud with golden bars Her shining brows? hath sweet-tongued Mercury Advanced his sons to station of the sky And throned them in thy wreath? [or] dost thou leave Thy splendour off and trust of gods deceive? _Ariad._ Queen of chaste dew, they will not be confined Or fix themselves where Mercury assign'd, But every night upon a forest-side, On which an eagle percheth, they abide, And honour her with their most raisèd light, Chaste sports, just praises, and all soft delight, Vowing their beams to make her presence heaven: Thus is the glory of my front bereaven. _Cynth._ Tell them they err, and say that we, the Queen Of night's pale lamps, have now the substance seen Whose shadow they adore. Go, bring those eight At mighty Cynthia's summons hither straight. Let us behold, that mount whilst we salute, Their faces, 'fore whom no dullness can be mute. Presently Ariadne sings this short call:-- Music and gentle night, Beauty, youth's chief delight, Pleasures all full invite Your due attendance to this glorious room; Then, if you have or wit or virtue, come, Oh, come! oh, come! Suddenly, upon this song, the cornets were winded, and the traverse that was drawn before the masquers sank down. The whole show presently appeareth, which presented itself in this figure: the whole body of it seemed to be the side of a steeply ascending wood, on the top of which, in a fair oak, sat a golden eagle, under whose wings sat, in eight several thrones, the eight masquers, with visards like stars, their helms like Mercury's, with the addition of fair plumes of carnation and white, their antique doublets and other furniture suitable to those colours, the place full of shields, lights, and pages all in blue satin robes, embroidered with stars. The masquers, thus discovered, sat still until Ariadne pronounced this invocation, at which they descended:--