The Maids Tragedy. Beaumont Francis
and through the glad Boughs sing
Many soft welcomes to the lusty spring.
These are our musick: next, thy watry race
Bring on in couples; we are pleas'd to grace
This noble night, each in their richest things
Your own deeps or the broken vessel brings;
Be prodigal, and I shall be as kind,
And shine at full upon you.
Nep. Ho the wind
Commanding Eolus!
[Enter Eolus out of a Rock.
Eol. Great Neptune!
Nep. He.
Eol. What is thy will?
Nep. We do command thee free Favonius and thy milder winds to wait Upon our Cinthia, but tye Boreas straight; He's too rebellious.
Eol. I shall do it.
Nep. Do, great master of the flood, and all below,
Thy full command has taken.
Eol. Ho! the main;
Neptune.
Nep. Here.
Eol. Boreas has broke his chain,
And struggling with the rest, has got away.
Nep. Let him alone, I'le take him up at sea;
He will not long be thence; go once again
And call out of the bottoms of the Main,
Blew Proteus, and the rest; charge them put on
Their greatest pearls, and the most sparkling stone
The bearing Rock breeds, till this night is done
By me a solemn honour to the Moon;
Flie like a full sail.
Eol. I am gone.
Cin. Dark night,
Strike a full silence, do a thorow right
To this great Chorus, that our Musick may
Touch high as heaven, and make the East break day
At mid-[n]ight.
[Musick.
Cinthia to thy power, and them we obey.
Joy to this great company, and no day
Come to steal this night away,
Till the rites of love are ended,
And the lusty Bridegroom say,
Welcome light of all befriended.
Pace out you watry powers below, let your feet
Like the Gallies when they row, even beat.
Let your unknown measures set
To the still winds, tell to all
That Gods are come immortal great,
To honour this great Nuptial.
The Measure. Second Song.
Hold back thy hours dark night, till we have done,
The day will come too soon;
Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away,
And leav'st their blushes open to the day.
Stay, stay, and hide the blushes of the Bride.
Stay gentle night, and with thy darkness cover
The kisses of her Lover.
Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings,
Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings;
Stay and hide all, but help not though she
call.
Nep. Great Queen of us and Heaven,
Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one,
If not her measure.
Cinth. Speak Seas King.
Nep. Thy tunes my Amphitrite joyes to have,
When they will dance upon the rising wave,
And court me as the sails, my Trytons play
Musick to lead a storm, I'le lead the way.
Song. Measure.
_To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,
And lay her by her Husbands side:
Bring in the Virgins every one
That grieve to lie alone:
That