The Vision of the Twelve Goddesses
Aw ake darke Sleepe , rouse thee from out this Caue,
Thy Mother Night that bred thee in her wombe
And fed thee first vvith silence and vvith ease,
Doth here thy shadowing operations craue:
And therefore wake my Sonne, awake, and come,
Strike vvith thy Horny vvand, the spirits of these
That here expect some pleasing nouelties:
And make their slumber to beget strange sights,
Strange visions and vnvsuall properties.
Vnseene of latter Ages, ancient Rites,
Of gifts diuine, vvrapt vp in mysteries:
Make this to seeme a Temple in their sight,
Whose maine support, holy Religion frame:
And Wisdome , Courage , Temperance , and Right ,
Make seeme the Pillars that sustaine the same.
Shadow some Sybill to attend the Rites,
And to describe the Powers that shall resort,
With th'interpretation of the benefits
They bring in clouds, and what they do import.
Yet make them to portend the true desire
Of those that vvish them waking, reall things:
Whilst I will hou'ring, here a-loofe retire
And couer all things vvith my sable Wings.
Somnus.
D E are Mother Night , I your commandement
Obey, and Dreames t'interpret Dreames will make,
As / vvaking curiosity is wont;
Though better dreame a sleep, then dreame awake.
And this white horny Wand shall vvorke the deed;
Whose power doth Figures of the light present:
When from this sable radius doth proceed
Nought but confused shewes, to no intent.
Be this a Temple; there Sybilla stand,
Preparing reuerent Rites with holy hand;
And so bright visions go, and entertaine
All round about, vvhilst I'le to sleepe againe. Iris, the Messenger of the Goddesses discending from the Mount, where they were assembled, (dect like the Rainebow) spake as followeth . I T he daughter of Wonder (now made the Messenger of Power), am here discended, to signifie the comming of a Cœlestiall presence of Goddesses, determined to visit this faire Temple of Peace, vvhich holy hands and deuout desires, haue dedicated to unity and concord. And leauing to shew themselues any more in Samos , Ida , Paphos , their ancient delighting places of Greece , and Asia , made now the seats of Barbarizme and spoyle, vouchsafe to recreat themselues vpon this Westerne Mount of mighty B RITTANNY ; the Land of ciuill Musick and of rest, and are pleased to appeare in the selfe-same Figures wherein antiquity hath formerly cloathed them, and as they haue bin cast in the imagination of piety, who hath giuen mortall shapes to the gifts and effects of an eternall power, for that those beautifull Caracters of sense were easier to be read then their mysticall Ideas , dispersed in that wide and incomprehensible volume of Nature.
And well haue mortall men apparelled all the Graces , all the Blessings , all Vertues , with that shape wherein themselues are much delighted, and which worke the best Motions, and best represent the beautie of heauenly Powers.
And therefore reuerent Prophetesse, that here attendest vpon / the deuotions of this Place, prepare thy selfe for those Rytes that appertaine to thy function, and the honour of such Deities; and to the end thou mayst haue a fore-notion what Powers, and who they are that come, take here this Prospectiue, and therein note and tell vvhat thou seest: for well mayest thou there obserue their shadowes, but their presence will bereaue thee of all, saue admiration and amazement; for who can looke vpon such Powers and speake? And so I leaue thee. Sybilla, hauing receiued this Message, and the Prospectiue, vseth these words . VV H at haue I seene? where am I? or do I see at all? or am I any where? was this Iris , (the Messenger of Iuno ) or else but a fantasme or imagination? will the diuine Goddesses vouchsafe to visit this poore Temple? Shall I be blest, to entertaine so great Powers? it can be but a dreame: yet so great Powers haue blest as humble roofes, and vse, out of no other respect, then their owne gracefulnes, to shine vvhere they will. But what Prospectiue is this? or what shall I herein see? Oh admirable Powers! what sights are these?
Iuno.
F I rst, here Imperiall Iuno in her Chayre,
With Scepter of command for Kingdomes large:
Descends all clad in colours of the Ayre,
Crown'd with bright Starres, to signifie her charge.
Pallas.
N E xt, War-like Pallas , in her Helmet drest
With Lance of vvinning, Target of defence:
In vvhom both Wit and Courage are exprest,
To get with glory, hold vvith Prouidence.
Venus./
T H en louely Venus in bright Maiesty,
Appeares with milde aspect, in Doue-like hue:
With th'all combining Skarffe of Amity.
T'ingird strange Nations with affections true.
Vesta.
N E xt Holy Vesta , with her flames of Zeale
Presents her selfe, clad in white Purity:
Whose booke, the soules sweet comfort, doth reueale
By the euer-burning Lampe of Piety.
Diana.
T H en chaste Diana , in her Robes of greene,
With weapons of the Wood her selfe addrests
To blesse the Forrests, where her power is seene,
In peace vvith all the vvorld but Sauage beasts.
Proserpina.
N E xt rich Proserpina , vvith flames of gold,
Whose state although within the earth, yet she
Comes from aboue, and in her hand doth hold
The Myne of wealth, with cheerefull Maiesty.
Macaria.
T H en all in purple Robes, rich Happinesse
Next her appeares, bearing in either hand,
Th'Ensignes both of wealth and wits, t'expresse
That by them both, her Maiesty doth stand.
Concordia.
N E xt all in party-coloured Robes appeares,
In white and crimson, gracefull Concord , drest
With knots of Vnion, and in hand she beares
The happy ioynèd Roses of our rest.
Astrea./
C L eare-eyed Astrea , next, with reuerent brow
Clad in Cælestiall hue, (which best she likes)
Comes with her Ballance, and her sword to shew
That first her iudgement weighs before it strikes.
Flora.
T H en cheereful Flora , all adorn'd with flowers,
Who cloathes the earth with beauty and delight
In thousand sundry suits, whilst shining houres
Will skarce afford a darknesse to the night.
Ceres.
N E xt plenteous Ceres in her Haruest weede,
Crown'd with th'increase of what she gaue to keepe,
To gratitude and faith: in whom we read,
Who sowes on Vertue shall with glory reape.
Tethis.
L A stly comes Tethis , Albions fairest loue
Whom she in faithfull Armes deignes t'embrace,
And brings the Trydent of her Power, t'approue
The kinde respect she hath to do him grace.
Thus haue I read their shadowes, but behold!
In glory, where they come as Iris told . The three Graces, comming to the upper part of the Hall sang this Song, while the Goddesses deliuered their presents .
Gratia sunt dantium, reddentium, & promerentium.
1
D E sert, Reward, and Gratitude,
The Graces of Societie:
Doe here with hand in hand conclude
The blessed chaine of Amitie:
For we deserue, we giue, we thanke,
Thanks, Gifts, Deserts, thus ioyne in ranke.
2
We yeeld the splendant raijes of light,
Vnto these blessings that descend:
The grace vvhereof with more delight,
The vvell disposing doth commend;
Whilst Gratitude, Rewards, Deserts,
Please, winne, draw on, and couple hearts.
3
For worth and power and due respect,
Deserues, bestowes, returnes with Grace:
The meed, reward, the kinde effect,
That giue the world a cheerefull face,
And turning in this course of right,
Make Vertue moue with true delight. The Song being ended, and the Maskers in the miadest of the Hall, disposing themselues to their Daunce: Sybilla hauing placed their seuerall presents on the Altar, vttereth these words .
O Powers of powers, grant to our vowes we pray
That these faire blessings which we now erect
In Figures left vs here, in substance may
Be those great props of glory and respect.
And power by Sea , with Grace proportionate,
Make glorious both the Soueraigne and his State After this the Maskers danced their owne measures, which being ended, and they ready to take out the Lords, the three Graces sang .
VV H iles worth with honour make their choise
For measured motions ordred right,
Now let vs likewise giue a voyce,
Vnto the touch of our delight.
For comforts lock't vp without sound,
Are th'vnborne children of the thought:
Like vnto Treasures neuer found
That buried lowe are left forgot
Where words, our glory doth not shew,
(There) like braue actions without Fame:
It seemes as Plants not set to grow,
Or as a Tombe without a Name.
The Maskers hauing ended their dancing with the Lords , Iris giues warning of their departure .
Iris. A S I was the ioyfull Messenger to notifie the comming, so am I now the same of the departure of these diuine powers. Who hauing cloathed themselues with these appearances, doe now returne backe againe to the Spheres of their owne being from whence they came. But yet, of my selfe, this / much I must reueale, though against the warrant of a Messenger; who I know had better to faile in obedience then in presumption, that these Deities by the motion of the all-directing Pallas , the glorious Patronesse of this mighty Monarchy, descending in the Maiestie of their inuisible essence, vpon yonder Mountaine, found there, the best, (and most worthily the best) of Ladies , disporting with her choysest Attendants; whose formes they presently vndertooke, as delighting to be in the best-built-Temples of Beauty and Honour. And in them vouchsafed to appeare in this manner, being otherwise no obiects for mortall eyes. And no doubt, but that in respect of the persons vnder whose beautifull couerings they haue thus presented themselues, these Deities will be pleased the rather at their inuocation (knowing all their desires to be such) as euermore to grace this glorious Monarchy with the Reall effects of these blessings represented.
Thy Mother Night that bred thee in her wombe
And fed thee first vvith silence and vvith ease,
Doth here thy shadowing operations craue:
And therefore wake my Sonne, awake, and come,
Strike vvith thy Horny vvand, the spirits of these
That here expect some pleasing nouelties:
And make their slumber to beget strange sights,
Strange visions and vnvsuall properties.
Vnseene of latter Ages, ancient Rites,
Of gifts diuine, vvrapt vp in mysteries:
Make this to seeme a Temple in their sight,
Whose maine support, holy Religion frame:
And Wisdome , Courage , Temperance , and Right ,
Make seeme the Pillars that sustaine the same.
Shadow some Sybill to attend the Rites,
And to describe the Powers that shall resort,
With th'interpretation of the benefits
They bring in clouds, and what they do import.
Yet make them to portend the true desire
Of those that vvish them waking, reall things:
Whilst I will hou'ring, here a-loofe retire
And couer all things vvith my sable Wings.
Somnus.
D E are Mother Night , I your commandement
Obey, and Dreames t'interpret Dreames will make,
As / vvaking curiosity is wont;
Though better dreame a sleep, then dreame awake.
And this white horny Wand shall vvorke the deed;
Whose power doth Figures of the light present:
When from this sable radius doth proceed
Nought but confused shewes, to no intent.
Be this a Temple; there Sybilla stand,
Preparing reuerent Rites with holy hand;
And so bright visions go, and entertaine
All round about, vvhilst I'le to sleepe againe. Iris, the Messenger of the Goddesses discending from the Mount, where they were assembled, (dect like the Rainebow) spake as followeth . I T he daughter of Wonder (now made the Messenger of Power), am here discended, to signifie the comming of a Cœlestiall presence of Goddesses, determined to visit this faire Temple of Peace, vvhich holy hands and deuout desires, haue dedicated to unity and concord. And leauing to shew themselues any more in Samos , Ida , Paphos , their ancient delighting places of Greece , and Asia , made now the seats of Barbarizme and spoyle, vouchsafe to recreat themselues vpon this Westerne Mount of mighty B RITTANNY ; the Land of ciuill Musick and of rest, and are pleased to appeare in the selfe-same Figures wherein antiquity hath formerly cloathed them, and as they haue bin cast in the imagination of piety, who hath giuen mortall shapes to the gifts and effects of an eternall power, for that those beautifull Caracters of sense were easier to be read then their mysticall Ideas , dispersed in that wide and incomprehensible volume of Nature.
And well haue mortall men apparelled all the Graces , all the Blessings , all Vertues , with that shape wherein themselues are much delighted, and which worke the best Motions, and best represent the beautie of heauenly Powers.
And therefore reuerent Prophetesse, that here attendest vpon / the deuotions of this Place, prepare thy selfe for those Rytes that appertaine to thy function, and the honour of such Deities; and to the end thou mayst haue a fore-notion what Powers, and who they are that come, take here this Prospectiue, and therein note and tell vvhat thou seest: for well mayest thou there obserue their shadowes, but their presence will bereaue thee of all, saue admiration and amazement; for who can looke vpon such Powers and speake? And so I leaue thee. Sybilla, hauing receiued this Message, and the Prospectiue, vseth these words . VV H at haue I seene? where am I? or do I see at all? or am I any where? was this Iris , (the Messenger of Iuno ) or else but a fantasme or imagination? will the diuine Goddesses vouchsafe to visit this poore Temple? Shall I be blest, to entertaine so great Powers? it can be but a dreame: yet so great Powers haue blest as humble roofes, and vse, out of no other respect, then their owne gracefulnes, to shine vvhere they will. But what Prospectiue is this? or what shall I herein see? Oh admirable Powers! what sights are these?
Iuno.
F I rst, here Imperiall Iuno in her Chayre,
With Scepter of command for Kingdomes large:
Descends all clad in colours of the Ayre,
Crown'd with bright Starres, to signifie her charge.
Pallas.
N E xt, War-like Pallas , in her Helmet drest
With Lance of vvinning, Target of defence:
In vvhom both Wit and Courage are exprest,
To get with glory, hold vvith Prouidence.
Venus./
T H en louely Venus in bright Maiesty,
Appeares with milde aspect, in Doue-like hue:
With th'all combining Skarffe of Amity.
T'ingird strange Nations with affections true.
Vesta.
N E xt Holy Vesta , with her flames of Zeale
Presents her selfe, clad in white Purity:
Whose booke, the soules sweet comfort, doth reueale
By the euer-burning Lampe of Piety.
Diana.
T H en chaste Diana , in her Robes of greene,
With weapons of the Wood her selfe addrests
To blesse the Forrests, where her power is seene,
In peace vvith all the vvorld but Sauage beasts.
Proserpina.
N E xt rich Proserpina , vvith flames of gold,
Whose state although within the earth, yet she
Comes from aboue, and in her hand doth hold
The Myne of wealth, with cheerefull Maiesty.
Macaria.
T H en all in purple Robes, rich Happinesse
Next her appeares, bearing in either hand,
Th'Ensignes both of wealth and wits, t'expresse
That by them both, her Maiesty doth stand.
Concordia.
N E xt all in party-coloured Robes appeares,
In white and crimson, gracefull Concord , drest
With knots of Vnion, and in hand she beares
The happy ioynèd Roses of our rest.
Astrea./
C L eare-eyed Astrea , next, with reuerent brow
Clad in Cælestiall hue, (which best she likes)
Comes with her Ballance, and her sword to shew
That first her iudgement weighs before it strikes.
Flora.
T H en cheereful Flora , all adorn'd with flowers,
Who cloathes the earth with beauty and delight
In thousand sundry suits, whilst shining houres
Will skarce afford a darknesse to the night.
Ceres.
N E xt plenteous Ceres in her Haruest weede,
Crown'd with th'increase of what she gaue to keepe,
To gratitude and faith: in whom we read,
Who sowes on Vertue shall with glory reape.
Tethis.
L A stly comes Tethis , Albions fairest loue
Whom she in faithfull Armes deignes t'embrace,
And brings the Trydent of her Power, t'approue
The kinde respect she hath to do him grace.
Thus haue I read their shadowes, but behold!
In glory, where they come as Iris told . The three Graces, comming to the upper part of the Hall sang this Song, while the Goddesses deliuered their presents .
Gratia sunt dantium, reddentium, & promerentium.
1
D E sert, Reward, and Gratitude,
The Graces of Societie:
Doe here with hand in hand conclude
The blessed chaine of Amitie:
For we deserue, we giue, we thanke,
Thanks, Gifts, Deserts, thus ioyne in ranke.
2
We yeeld the splendant raijes of light,
Vnto these blessings that descend:
The grace vvhereof with more delight,
The vvell disposing doth commend;
Whilst Gratitude, Rewards, Deserts,
Please, winne, draw on, and couple hearts.
3
For worth and power and due respect,
Deserues, bestowes, returnes with Grace:
The meed, reward, the kinde effect,
That giue the world a cheerefull face,
And turning in this course of right,
Make Vertue moue with true delight. The Song being ended, and the Maskers in the miadest of the Hall, disposing themselues to their Daunce: Sybilla hauing placed their seuerall presents on the Altar, vttereth these words .
O Powers of powers, grant to our vowes we pray
That these faire blessings which we now erect
In Figures left vs here, in substance may
Be those great props of glory and respect.
And power by Sea , with Grace proportionate,
Make glorious both the Soueraigne and his State After this the Maskers danced their owne measures, which being ended, and they ready to take out the Lords, the three Graces sang .
VV H iles worth with honour make their choise
For measured motions ordred right,
Now let vs likewise giue a voyce,
Vnto the touch of our delight.
For comforts lock't vp without sound,
Are th'vnborne children of the thought:
Like vnto Treasures neuer found
That buried lowe are left forgot
Where words, our glory doth not shew,
(There) like braue actions without Fame:
It seemes as Plants not set to grow,
Or as a Tombe without a Name.
The Maskers hauing ended their dancing with the Lords , Iris giues warning of their departure .
Iris. A S I was the ioyfull Messenger to notifie the comming, so am I now the same of the departure of these diuine powers. Who hauing cloathed themselues with these appearances, doe now returne backe againe to the Spheres of their owne being from whence they came. But yet, of my selfe, this / much I must reueale, though against the warrant of a Messenger; who I know had better to faile in obedience then in presumption, that these Deities by the motion of the all-directing Pallas , the glorious Patronesse of this mighty Monarchy, descending in the Maiestie of their inuisible essence, vpon yonder Mountaine, found there, the best, (and most worthily the best) of Ladies , disporting with her choysest Attendants; whose formes they presently vndertooke, as delighting to be in the best-built-Temples of Beauty and Honour. And in them vouchsafed to appeare in this manner, being otherwise no obiects for mortall eyes. And no doubt, but that in respect of the persons vnder whose beautifull couerings they haue thus presented themselues, these Deities will be pleased the rather at their inuocation (knowing all their desires to be such) as euermore to grace this glorious Monarchy with the Reall effects of these blessings represented.
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