Of Masques AND TRIUMPHS

THESE things are but toys, to come amongst

such serious observations.  But yet, since

princes will have such things, it is better they

should be graced with elegancy, than daubed with

cost.  Dancing to song, is a thing of great state and

pleasure.  I understand it, that the song be in quire,

placed aloft, and accompanied with some broken

music; and the ditty fitted to the device.  Acting in

song, especially in dialogues, hath an extreme

good grace; I say acting, not dancing (for that is a

mean and vulgar thing); and the voices of the dia-

logue would be strong and manly (a base and a

tenor; no treble); and the ditty high and tragical;

not nice or dainty.  Several quires, placed one over

against another, and taking the voice by catches,

anthem-wise, give great pleasure.  Turning dances

into figure, is a childish curiosity.  And generally

let it be noted, that those things which I here set

down, are such as do naturally take the sense, and

not respect petty wonderments.  It is true, the al-

terations of scenes, so it be quietly and without

noise, are things of great beauty and pleasure; for

they feed and relieve the eye, before it be full of

the same object.  Let the scenes abound with light,

specially colored and varied; and let the masquers,

or any other, that are to come down from the

scene, have some motions upon the scene itself,

before their coming down; for it draws the eye

strangely, and makes it, with great pleasure, to

desire to see, that it cannot perfectly discern.  Let

the songs be loud and cheerful, and not chirpings

or pulings.  Let the music likewise be sharp and

loud, and well placed.  The colors that show best by

candle-light are white, carnation, and a kind of

sea-water-green; and oes, or spangs, as they are of

no great cost, so they are of most glory.  As for rich

embroidery, it is lost and not discerned.  Let the

suits of the masquers be graceful, and such as be-

come the person, when the vizors are off; not after

examples of known attires; Turke, soldiers, mari-

ners', and the like.  Let anti-masques not be long;

they have been commonly of fools, satyrs, baboons,

wild-men, antics, beasts, sprites, witches, Ethiops,

pigmies, turquets, nymphs, rustics, Cupids, statuas

moving, and the like.  As for angels, it is not comi-

cal enough, to put them in anti-masques; and

anything that is hideous, as devils, giants, is on

the other side as unfit.  But chiefly, let the music

of them be recreative, and with some strange

changes.  Some sweet odors suddenly coming forth,

without any drops falling, are, in such a company

as there is steam and heat, things of great pleasure

and refreshment.  Double masques, one of men,

another of ladies, addeth state and variety.  But all

is nothing except the room be kept clear and neat.
 
 

For justs, and tourneys, and barriers; the glories

of them are chiefly in the chariots, wherein the

challengers make their entry; especially if they

be drawn with strange beasts: as lions, bears,

camels, and the like; or in the devices of their en-

trance; or in the bravery of their liveries; or in the

goodly furniture of their horses and armor.  But

enough of these toys.