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The Speeches at Prince Henry's Barriers.

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                Masques. 355


T H E

S P E E C H E S

A T

P R I N C E   H E N R Y's

B  A  R  R  I  E  R  S.

The Lady of the Lake, first discovered.


A

 Silence, calm as are my waters, meet
 Your rais'd attentions, whilst my silver feet
 Touch on the richer shore; and to this seat
 Vow my new duties and mine old repeat.
   Lest any yet should doubt, or might mistake
What Nymph I am; behold the ample Lake
Of which I am styl'd; and near it Merlin's Tomb
Grave of his cunning, as of mine the Womb.
   By this it will not ask me to proclaim
More of my self, whose Actions, and whose Name
Were so full feign'd in British Arthur's Court;
No more than it will fit me to report.
   What hath before been trusted to our squire
   Of me, my Knight, his Fate, and my desire
   To meet, if not prevent his destiny,
   And stile him to the Court of Britanny;
Now when the Island hath regain'd her Fame
Intire, and perfect, in the ancient Name,
And that a Monarch equal good and great,
Wise, temperate, just, and stout, claims Arthur's Seat.
Did I say equal? O too prodigal Wrong
Of my o're-thirsty, and unequal Tongue!
How brighter far, than when our Arthur liv'd,
Are all the Glories of this place reviv'd!
What riches do I see; what beauties here!
What awe! what love! what reverence! joy! and fear!
What Ornaments of Counsel as of Court!
All that is high or great, or can comport
Unto the Stile of Majesty, that knows
No Rival, but it self, this place here shows.
Only the House of Chivalry (how e're
The inner parts and store be full, yet here
In that which Gentry should sustain) decayed
Or rather ruin'd seems; her Buildings lay'd

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Flat with the Earth; that were the Pride of Time,
And did the barbarous Memphian heaps out-clime.
Those Obilisks and Columns broke, and down,
That strook the Stars, and rais'd the British Crown
To be a Constellation: Shields and Swords,
Cob-web'd, and rusty; not a helm affords
A Spark of Lustre, which were wont to give
Light to the World, and made the Nation live,
When in a Day of Honour fire was smit
To have put out Vulcan's, and have lasted yet.
O, when this Ędifice stood great and high,
That in the Carcass hath such Majesty,
Whose very Sceleton boasts so much worth,
What Grace, what Glories did it then send forth?
When to the Structure went more noble Names
Than the Ephesian Temple lost in flames:
When every Stone was laid by vertuous Hands;
And standing so, (O that it yet not stands!)
More Truth of Architecture there was blaz'd,
Than liv'd in all the ignorant Goths have rais'd.
There Porticus were built, and Seats for Knights
That watch'd for all Adventure, Days and Nights
The Niecesvariant spelling of 'Niches' fill'd with Statues, to invite
Young Valours forth, by their old Forms to fight.
With Arks triumphal for their Actions done,
Out-striding the Colossus of the Sun.
And Trophies, rear'd, of spoiled Enemies,
Whose Tops pierc'd through the Clouds, and hit the Skies.

A R T H U R.

Discover-
ed as a
Star a-
bove.
A
ND thither hath thy Voice pierc'd. Stand not maz'd,

Thy Eyes have here on greater Glories gaz'd.

Z z 2                                             And




356 Masques.                    


And not been frighted. I thy Arthur am
Translated to a Star; and of that frame
Or constellation that was call'd for me
So long before, as showing what I should be.
Arcturus, once thy King, and now thy Star.
Such the rewards of all good Princes are.
Nor let it trouble thy design, fair Dame,
That I am present to it with thy flame
And influence; since the times are now devolv'd
That Merlin's Mystick prophesies are absolv'd,
In Britain's Name, the Union of this Ile;
And claim both of my Scepter and my Stile.

   Fair fall his Vertue, that doth fill that Throne,
In which I joy, to find my self so out-shone;
A nd'And' for the greater, wish, men should him take,
As it is nobler to restore than make.

   Proceed in thy great Work; bring forth thy Knight
Preserved for his times, that by the might
And magick of his Arm, he may restore,
These ruin'd Seats of Vertue, and build more.
Let him be famous, as was Tristram, Tor.period should be replaced with a comma
Launc'lot,
and all our List of Knight-hood: or
Who were before, or have been since. His name
Strike upon Heaven, and there stick his fame.
Beyond the Paths, and Searches of the Sun,
Let him tempt Fate; and when a World is wun,
Submit it duely to this State, and Throne,
Till time, and utmost stay make that his own.
   But first receive this shield; wherein is wrought
The truth that he must follow; and (being taught
The ways from Heaven) ought not be despis'd.
It is a piece, was by the Fates devis'd
To arm his maiden Valour; and to show
Defensive Arms th'offensive should fore-go.
Indow him with it Lady of the Lake.
And for the other Mysteries, here, awake
The learned Merlin; when thou shut'st him there,
Thou buried'st Valour too, for Letters reer
The Deeds of Honour high, and make them live.
If then thou seek to restore prowess, give
His Spirit freedom; then present thy Knight:
For Arms and Arts sustain each others right.

L A D Y.

M
Y errour I acknowledge, though too late
 To expiate it; There's no resisting Fate.
   Arise great Soul; Fame by surreption got
May stead us for the time, but lasteth not.
   O, do not rise with storm, and rage. Forgive
Repented wrongs. I'am cause thou now shalt live
Eternally, for being deprest a-while,
Want makes us know the price of what we avile.

M E R L I N.

I
 Neither storm, nor rage; 'tis Earth; blame her
 That feels these motions when great Spirits stir,
She is affrighted, and n ow'now' chid by Heaven,
Whilst we walk calmly on upright and even.
   Call forth the fair Meliadus, thy Knight,
They are his Fates that make the Elements fight:
And these but usual throws, when time sends forth
A Wonder or a Spectacle of Worth.
At common Births the World feels nothing new;
At these she shakes; Mankind lives in a few.

L A D Y.

T
H E  Heavens, the Fates, and thy peculiar Stars,
 Meliadus shew thee; and conclude all Jarrs.
stage direction, left bracket '[' omittedMeliadus, and his six Assistants here discovered.


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M E R L I N.

Arising,
out of the
Tomb.
I,
 Now the Sphe res'Spheres' are in their Tunes again.
 What place is this so bright that doth remain

Yet undemolish'd? or but late built! O,
I read it now. St. George's Portico!
The supreme Head of all the World, where now
Knight-hood lives honour'd with a crowned brow.
A noble Scene, and fit to shew him in
That must of all Worlds fame the Garland win.

L A D Y.

D
O's he not sit like Mars, or one that had
 The better of him, in his Armor clad?
And those his six Assistants, as the pride
Of the old Gręcian Heroes had not died?
Or like Apollo, rais'd to the World's view,
The minute after he the Python slew.

'
G
I S'Tis all too little, Lady, you can speak.
 My thought grows great of him, and fain would break.

Invite him forth, and guide him to his Tent,
That I may read, this shield his Fates present.

L A D Y.

G
Lory of Knights, and hope of all the Earth,
 Come forth; your Fortress bids; who from your Birth

Hath bred you to this Hour, and for this Throne.
This is the Field to make your Vertue known.
   If he were now (he says) to vow his Fires
Of Faith, of Love, of Service, then his Squires
Had utter'd nothing for him: But he hopes
In the first tender of himself, his Scopes
Were so well read, as it were no decor'm
Where truth is studied, there to practice form.

M E R L I N.

N
O, let his Actions speak him; and this shield
 Let down from Heav'n, that to his Youth will yield
Such Copy of Incitement: Not the Deeds
Of antique Knights, to catch their fellows steeds
Or Ladies palfreys, rescue from the force
Of a fell Giant, or some score to unhorse.
These were bold Stories of our Arthur's Age;
But here are other Acts; another stage
And Scene appeas;appears it is not since as then:
No Giants, Dwarfs, or Monsters here, but Men.
His Arts must be to govern, and give Laws
To Peace no less than Arms. His fate here draws
An Empire with it, and describes each State
Preceding there, that he should imitate.
   First, fair Meliadus, hath she wrought an Isle.
The happiest of the Earth (which to your stile
In time must add) and in it placed high
Britain, the only Name, made Cęsar fly.
Within the nearer parts, as apt, and due
To your first Speculation you may view
The Eye of Justice shooting through the Land,
Like a bright Planet strengthned by the hand
Of first, and warlike Edward; then th'increase
Of Trades and Tillage, under Laws and Peace,
Begun by him, but setled and promov'd
By the third Heroe of his Name, who lov'd
To set his own awork, and not to see
The fatness of his Land a portion be
For     




                Masques. 357


For strangers. This was he, erected first
The trade of Clothing, by which Art were nurst
Whole millions to his service, and reliev'd
So many poor, as since they have believ'd
The golden Fleece, and need no foreign Mine,
If Industry or home do not decline.
   To prove which true, observe what treasure here
The wise and seventh Henry heapt each year,
To be the strength and sinews of a War,
When Mars should thunder, or his peace but jar.
And here how the eighth Henry his brave Son
Built Forts, made general Musters, train'd Youth on
In exercise of Arms, and girt his Coast
With strength; to which (whose Fame no Tongue can boast
Up to her worth, though all best Tongues be glad
To name her still) did great Eliza add
A Wall of Shipping, and became thereby
The Aid, or Fear of all the Nations nigh.
These, worthiest Prince, are set you near to read,
That Civil Arts the Martial must precede:
That Laws and Trade bring Honours in and Gain,
And Arms defensive a safe Peace maintain.
But when your Fate shall call you forth to assure
Your Virtue more (though not to make secure)
View here, what great Examples she hath plac'd.
   First, Two brave Britain Heroes, that were grac'd
To fight their Saviour's Battels, and did bring
Destruction on the Faithless; one a King,
Richard, surnamed with the Lions heart,
The other Edward, and the first, whose part
(Then being but Prince) it was to lead these Wars
In the Age after, but with better Stars.
For here though Cœur de Lion like a Storm
Pour on the Saracens, and doth perform
Deeds past an Angel, arm'd with Wrath and Fire,
Plowing whole Armies up, with zealous Ire,
And walled Cities, while he doth defend
That Cause that should all Wars begin and end;
Yet when with Pride, and for humane Respect
The Austrian Colours he doth here deject
With too much scorn, behold at length how Fate
Makes him a wretched Prisoner to that State;
And leaves him, as a mark of Fortune's spight,
When Princes tempt their Stars beyond their light:
Whil'st upright Edward shines no less than he,
Under the wings of golden Victory,
Nor lets out no less Rivers of the blood
Of Infidels, but makes the Field a flood,
And marches through it, with St. Georges Cross,
Like Israels Host to the Egyptians loss,
Through the Red-Sea: the Earth beneath him cold,
And quaking such an Enemy to behold.
For which, his temper'd zeal, see Providence
Flying in here, and arms him with defence
Against th'Assassinate made upon his life
By a foul wretch, from whom he wrests the knife,
And gives him a just hire: which yet remains
A warning to great Chiefs, to keep their trains
About 'em still, and not, to privacy,
Admit a hand that may use treachery.
   Nearer than these, not for the same high cause,
Yet for the next (what was his Right by Laws
Of Nations due) doth fight that Mars of Men
The Black Prince Edward, 'gainst the French, who then
At Cressey field had no more years than you,
Here his glad Father has him in the view
As he is entring in the School of War,
And pours all blessings on him from afar
That Wishes can; whilst he (that close of day)
Like a young Lyon, newly taught to prey,
Invades the herds, so fled the French, and tears
From the Bohemian Crown the Plume he wears,
Which after for his Crest he did preserve
To his Fathers use, with this fit word, I SERVE.

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But here at Poictiers he was Mars indeed.
Never did Valor with more stream succeed
Than he had there. He flow'd out like a Sea
Upon their Troops, and left their Arms no way:
Or like a Fire carried with high winds
Now broad, and spreading, by and by it finds
A vent upright, to look which way to burn:
Then shoots along again, or round doth turn,
Till in the circling spoil it hath embrac't
All that stood nigh, or in the reach to wast:
Such was his rage that day; but then forgot
Soon as his Sword was sheath'd, it lasted not,
After the King, the Dauphin, and French Peers
By yielding to him, wisely quit their fears,
Whom he did use with such humanity,
As they complain'd not of Captivity;
But here to England without shame came in.
To be his Captives, was the next to win.
   Yet rests the other thunderbolt of War,
Harry the Fifth, to whom in Face you are
So like, as Fate would have you so in worth,
Illustrious Prince. This Vertue ne're came forth,
But Fame flue greater for him, than she did
For other Mortals; Fate herself did bid
To save his life: The time it reach'd unto,
War knew not how to give him enough to do.
His very Name made head against his Foes.
And here at Agin-Court where first it rose,
It there hangs still a Comet over France,
Striking their malice blind, that dare advance
A thought against it, lightned by your flame
That shall succeed him both in deeds and name.
   I could report more actions yet of weight
Out of this Orb, as here of Eighty-eight,
Against the proud Armada, stil'd by Spain,
The Invincible;
that cover'd all the Main,
As if whole Islands had broke loose, and swame;
Or half of Norway with her Firr-trees came,
To join the Continents, it was so great;
Yet by the auspice of Eliza beat:
That dear-belov'd of Heaven, whom to preserve
The winds were call'd to fight, and storms to serve.
One tumor drown'd another.period should be replaced with a comma billows strove
To out-swell Ambition, water Air out-drove,
Though she not wanted on that glorious day,
An ever-honor'd Howard to display
St. Georges Ensign; and of that high race
A second, both which ply'd the Fight and Chace:
And sent first bullets, then a fleet of fire,
Then shot themselves like Ordnance; and a tire
Of ships for pieces, through the Enemies Moon,
That wan'd before it grew, and now they soon
Are rent, spoil'd, scatter'd, tost with all disease,
And for their thirst of Britain drink the Seas.
The Fish were never better fed than then,
Although at first they fear'd the blood of men
Had chang'd their Element; and Neptune shook
As if the thunderer had his palace took.
   So here in Wales, Low-Countries, France and Spain,
You may behold both on the land 'and' omitted main
The conquests got, the spoils, the Trophies rear'd
By British Kings, and such as no blest heard
Of all the Nation, which may make t'invite
Your valure upon need, but not t'incite
Your neighbour Princes, give them all their due,
And be prepar'd if they will trouble you.
He doth but scourge himself, his sword that draws
Without a purse, a counseland'counsel and' a cause.
   But all these spurs to vertue, seeds of praise
Must yield to this that comes. Here's one will raise
Your glory more, and so above the rest,
As if the acts of all mankind were prest
In his Example. Here are Kingdoms mixt
And Nations join'd, a strength of Empire fixt
Con-                




358 Masques.                    


Conterminate with Heaven; the golden vein
Of Saturns Age is here broke out again.
Henry but joyn'd the Roses, that ensign'd
Particular families, but this hath joyn'd
The Rose and Thistle, and in them combin'd
A Union, that shall never be declin'd.
Ireland that more in title than in fact
Before was conquer'd is his Lawrels act!
The wall of Shipping by Eliza made,
Decay'd (as all things subject are to fade)
He hath new built, or so restor'd, that men
For noble use, prefer it afore then:
Royal and mighty James, whose name shall set
A goal for all posterity to sweat,
In running at by actions hard and high:
This is the height at which your thoughts must fly.
He knows both how to govern, how to save,
What subjects, what their contraries should have,
What can be done by power, and what by love,
What should to Mercy, what to Justice move:
All Arts he can, and from the hand of Fate
Hath he enforc'd the making his own date
Within his proper vertue hath he plac'd
His guards 'gainst Fortune, and there fixed fast
The wheel of Chance, about which Kings are hurl'd
And whose outragious raptures fill the World.

L A D Y.

I
,
 This is he, Meliadus, whom you
 Must only serve, and give your self unto:
And by your diligent practice to obey
So wise a Master learn the art of sway.
   Merlin, advance the shield upon his tent
And now prepare fair Knight to prove th' event
Of your bold Challenge. Be your vertue steel'd,
And let your drum give note you keep the field.
Is this the land of Britain so renown'd
For deeds of Arms, or are their hearings drown'd
That none do answer?

M E R L I N.

                 Stay, methinks I see
A person in yond' Cave. Who should that be?
I know her Ensigns now: 'Tis Chevalry
Possess'd with sleep, dead as a Lethargy:
If any Charm will wake her, 'tis the name
Of our Meliadusperiod omitted I'll use his Fame.
   Lady, Meliadus, Lord of the Isles,
Princely Leliadus,Meliadus and whom Fate now stiles
The fair Meliadus, hath hung his shield,
Upon his tent, and here doth keep the field,
According to his bold and princely word;
And wants employment for his pike and sword.

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C H A V A L R Y.

W
Ere it from death, that name would wake me. Say
 Which is the Knight? O, I could gaze a day
Upon his armour that hath so reviv'd
My spirits, and tells me that I am long liv'd
In his appearance. Break you rusty dores
That have so long been shut, and from the shores
Of all the world, come knighthood like a flood
Upon these lists, to make the field here, good,
And your own honors, that are now call'd forth
Against the wish of men to prove your worth.

The   B A R R I E R S.

After which Merlin speaks.

N
Ay, stay your valure, 'tis a wisdom high
 In Princes to use fortune reverently.
He that in deeds of Arms obeys his blood,
Doth often tempt his destiny beyond good.
Look on this throne, and in his temper view
The light of all that must have grace in you:
His equal Justice, upright Fortitude
And setled Prudence, with that Peace indued
Of face, as mind, always himself and even.
So Hercules, and good men bear up heaven.
   I dare not speak his vertues for the fear
Of flatt'ring him, they come so high and near
To wonders; yet thus much I prophesie
Of him and his. All cares your selves apply.
   You, and your other you, great King and Queen,
Have yet the least of your bright Fortune seen,
Which shall rise brighter every hour with Time,
And in your pleasure quite forget the crime
Of change; your ages night shall be her noon.
And if this young Knight, that now puts forth so soon
Into the World, shall in your names atchieve
More Gyrlands for this State, and shall relieve
Your cares in government; while that young Lord
Shall second him in Arms, and shake a sword
And launce against the foes of God and you.
Nor shall less joy your royal hopes pursue
In that most princely Maid, whose form might call
The World to war, and make it hazard all
His valour for her beauty, she shall be
Mother of Nations, and her Princes see
Rivals almost to these. Whilst you sit high,
And led by them behold your Britain fly
Beyond the line, when what the seas before
Did bound, shall to the sky then stretch his shore.








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