With this , to a soft straine of Musique , they pac'd once about , in their Ring , every Payre making their Honors , as they came before the State : and then dissolving , went downe in Couples , led on by HYMEN , the Bride , and Auspices following , as to the Nuptiall Bowre . After them , the Musitians with this Song , of which , then , onely one Staffe was sung ; but because I made it both in Forme , and Matter to aemulate that kinde of Poeme , which was call'd a Epithalamium , and ( by the Auntients ) vs'd to be song , when the Bride was led into her Chamber , I have here set it down whole : and doe hartily forgive their ignorance whom it chanceth not to please . Hoping , that Nemo doctus me iubeat Thalassionem verbis dicere non Thalassionis .

HItherto extended the first Nights Solemnitie , whose Grace in the Exequution left not where to adde vnto it , with wishing : I meane , ( nor doe I court them ) in those , that sustain'd the Nobler parts . Such was the exquisit Performance , as ( beside the Pompe , Splendour , or what wee may call Apparrelling of such Presentments ) that alone ( had all else beene absent ) was of power to surprize with Delight , and steale away the Spectators from themselves . Nor was there wanting whatsoever might give to the Furniture , or Complement : eyther in riches , or strangenesse of the Habites , delicacie of Daunces , Magnificence of the Scene , or divine Rapture of Musique . Onely the Envie was , that it lasted not still , or ( now it is past ) cannot by Imagination , much lesse Description , be recover'd to a part of that Spirit , it had in the gliding by .

Yet , that I may not vtterly defraud the Reader of his Hope , I am drawne to give it those briefe touches , which may leave behind some shadow of what it was : And first of the Attires .

That , of the Lords , had parte of it ( for the fashion ) taken from the Antique Greeke Statue ; mixed with some Moderne Additions : which made it both gracefull , and strange . On their Heades they wore Persick Crowns , that were with Scroles of Gold-plate turn'd outward ; and wreath'd about with a Carnation and Silver Net-lawne : The one End of which hung carelesly on the left shoulder , the other was trick'd vp before in severall degrees of fouldes , betweene the Plates , and set with rich Iewelles , and great Pearle . Their Bodies were of Carnation cloth of silver , richly wrought , and cut to expresse the Naked , in maner of the Greeke Thorax ; girt vnder the Breasts , with a broade Belt of Cloth of Golde , imbrodered , and fastned before with Iewells : Their Labells were of White Cloth of silver , lac'd , and wrought curiously betweene , sutable to the vpper halfe of their Sleeves ; whose nether partes , with their Bases , were of Watchet Cloth of Silver , chev'rond all over with Lace . Their Mantills were of severall colour'd silkes , distinguishing their Qualities , as they were coupled in payres ; The first , Skie colour ; The second , Pearle colour ; The third , Flame colour ; The fourth , Tawnie ; And these cut in leaves , which were subtilly tack'd vp , and imbrodered with Oo's , and between every ranke of Leaves , a broad silver Lace . They were fastned on the right shoulder , and fell Compasse downe the backe in gratious folds , and were againe tied with a round Knot , to the fastning of their Swords . Vpon their legges they wore Silver Greaves , answering in worke to their Labells ; and these were their Accoutrements .

The Ladies Attire was wholy new , for the Invention , and full of Glory ; as having in it the most true impression of a Celestiall Figure : The vpper part of White Cloth of Silver , wrought with IVNOES Birdes and Fruicts ; A loose vnder garment , full-gather'd , of Carnation , strip't with Silver , and parted with a Golden Zone ; Beneath that , an other flowing Garment , of Watchet Cloth of Silver , lac'd with Gold : Through all which , though they were round , and swelling , there yet appear'd some touch of their delicate Lineaments , preserving the sweetenesse of Proportion , and expressing it selfe beyond expression . The Attire of their Heads , did answer , if not exceede ; their Hayre being carelesly ( but yet with more art , then if more affected ) bound vnder the circle of a rare , and rich Coronet , adorn'd with all variety , and choyce of Iewells ; from the top of which , flow'd a trasparent Veile downe to the ground ; whose verge , returning vp , was fastned to eyther side in most sprightly Manner . Their shooes were Azure , and Gold , set with Rubies , and Diamonds ; so were all their Garments : and euery part abounding in Ornament .

No lesse to be admir'd , for the Grace , and Greatnesse , was the whole Machine of the Spectacle , from whence they came : the first part of which was a {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} , or Globe , filld with Countreys , and those guilded ; where the Sea was exprest , heightned with siluer waues . This stoode , or rather hung , ( for no Axell was seene to support it ) and turning softly , discoverd the first Masque , ( as we have before , but too runningly declar'd ) which was of the Men , sitting in faire Composition , within a Mine of severall Mettalls : To which , the Lights were so plac'd , as noe one was seene ; but seemed , as if onely REASON , with the splendor of her Crowne , illumin'd the whole Grot .

On the sides of this ( which began the other part ) were placed two great Statues , fayn'd of Gold , one of Atlas , the other of Hercules , in varied postures , bearing vp the Cloudes , which were of Releue , embossed , and tralucent , as Naturalls : To these , a Cortine of painted Cloudes ioyned , which reach'd to the vpmost Roofe of the Hall ; and sodainely opening , reveal'd the three Regions of Ayre : In the highest of which , sate IVNO , in a glorious Throne of Gold , circled with Comets , and fiery Meteors , engendred in that hot and dry Region ; her Feete reaching to the lowest , where was made a Rainebow , and within it , Musitians seated , figuring Ayry Spirits , their habits various , and resembling the seuerall colours , caused in that part of the Ayre by reflexion . The midst was all of darke and condensed Cloudes , as being the proper Place where Rayne , Hayle , and other watry Meteors are made ; out of which two concave Clouds , from the rest , thrust forth themselves ( in nature of those Nimbi , wherein , by Homer , Virgill , &c. the Gods are fain'd to descend ) and these carried the eight Ladies , over the heads of the two a Termes ; who ( as the Ingine mov'd ) seem'd also to bow themselves ( by vertue of their shadowes ) and discharge their shoulders of their glorious burden : when , having set them on the Earth , both they , and the Cloudes gather'd themselves vp againe , with some rapture of the Beholders .

But that , which ( as above in place , so in the beuty ) was most taking in the Spectacle , was the Spheare of Fire ; in the top of all , encompassing the Ayre , and imitated with such art , and industry , as the Spectators might discerne the Motion ( all the time the Shewes lasted ) without any Moover : and , that so swift , as no Eye could distinguish any Colour of the Light , but might forme to it selfe five hundred severall hewes , out of the tralucent Body of the Ayre , obiected betwixt it , and them .

And this was crown'd with a statue of IVPITER , the Thunderer .

The Designe , and Act of all which , together with the Device of their Habits , belongs properly to the Merit , and Reputation of Maister YNYGO IONES ; whom I take modest occasion , in this fit place , to remember , lest his owne worth might accuse mee of an ignorant neglect from my silence .

And here , that no mans Deservings complain of iniustice ( though I should have done it timelier , I acknowledge ) I doe for honours sake , and the pledge of our Friendship , name Ma. ALPHONSO FERABOSCO , a Man , planted by himselfe , in that divine Spheare ; & mastring all the spirits of Musique : To whose iudiciall Care , and as absolute Performance , were committed all those Difficulties both of Song , and otherwise . Wherein , what his Merit made to the Soule of our Invention , would aske to be exprest in Tunes , no lesse ravishing then his . Vertuous friend , take well this abrupt testimonie , and thinke whose it is : It cannot be Flatterie , in me , who never did it to Great ones ; and lesse then Love , and Truth it is not , where it is done out of Knowledge .

The Daunces were both made , and taught by Maister THOMAS GILES ; and cannot bee more approv'd , then they did themselves : Nor doe I want the will , but the skill to commend such Subtilties ; of which the Spheare , wherein they were acted , is best able to iudge .

What was my part , the Faults here , as well as the Vertues must speake . Mutare dominum nec potest Liber notus .

ON the next Night , whose Solemnitie was of Barriers , ( all mention of the former , being vtterly remo'vd , and taken away ) there appeared , at the lower end of the Hall , a Mist made of delicate perfumes ; out of which ( a Battaile being sounded vnder the Stage ) did seeme to breake foorth two Ladies , the one representing TRVTH , the other OPINION : but both so alike attired , as they could by no Note , be distinguish'd . The colour of their Garments were blew , their Socks White ; They were crowned with wreathes of Palme , and in their hands , each of them sustain'd a Palm-bough . These , after the Mist was vanished , began to examine each other curiously with their eyes , and approching the State , the one expostulated the other in this manner .