feet, as his hands: for there is a noble corncutter, his companion, hath so pared and finified them Indeed, he hath taken it into his care, to reform the feet of all, and fit all their footing to a form only one splay foot in the company, and he is a bellows-mender, allowed, who hath the looking to all of their lungs by patent, and by his place is to set that leg afore still, and with his puffs, keeps them in breath, during pleasure: a tinder-box-man, to strike new fire into them at every turn, and where he spies any brave spark that is in danger to go out, ply him with a match presently.

Shep. A most politic provision!

Fen. Nay, we have made our provisions beyond example, I hope. For to these, there is annexed a clock-keeper, a grave person, as Time himself, who is to see that they all keep time to a nick, and move every elbow in order, every knee in compass. He is to wind them up, and draw them down, as he sees cause: then is there a subtle shrewd bearded sir, that hath been a politician, but is now a maker of mouse-traps, a great inginer yet: and he is to catch the ladies favours in the dance, with certain cringes he is to make and to bait their benevolence. can we doubt of the success, for we have a prophet amongst us of that peremptory pate, a tailor or master-fashioner, that hath found it out in a painted cloth, or some old hanging, (for those are his library,) that we must conquer in such a time, and such a half time; therefore bids us go on cross-legg'd, or however thread the needles of our own happiness, go through stitch with all, unwind the clew of our cares; he hath

Nor

To a nick.] i. e. what Shakspeare calls "a jar o' the clock."

taken measure of our minds, and will fit our fortune to our footing. And to better assure us, at his own charge, brings his philosopher with him, a great clerk, who, they say, can write, and it is shrewdly suspected but he can read too. And he is to take the whole dances from the foot by brachygraphy, and so make a memorial, if not a map of the business. Come forth, lads, and do your own turns.

The BAOTIANS enter for the ANTIMASQUE, which is Danced,

After which,

Fen. How like you this, shepherd ? was not this gear gotten on a holyday?

Shep. Faith, your folly may deserve pardon, because it hath delighted: but beware of presuming, or how you offer comparison with persons so near deities: Behold where they are that have now forgiven you, whom should you provoke again with the like, they will justly punish that with anger, which they now dismiss with contempt. Away! [They retire.

To the Masquers.

And come, you prime Arcadians forth, that taught

By Pan the rites of true society,

From his loud music all your manners wrought, And made your commonwealth a harmony,

Commending so to all posterity

Your innocence from that fair fount of light,

As still you sit without the injury

Of any rudeness, folly can, or spite:

Dance from the top of the Lycæan mountain, Down to this valley, and with nearer eye Enjoy, what long in that illumin'd fountain You did far off, but yet with wonder, spy.

HYMN I.

1 Nym. Of Pan we sing, the best of singers, Pan, That taught us swains how first to tune

Cho.

our lays,

And on the pipe more airs than Phœbus can. Hear, O you groves, and hills resound his praise.

2 Nym. Of Pan we sing, the best of leaders, Pan, That leads the Naiads and the Dryads forth;

Cho.

And to their dances more than Hermes can. Hear, O you groves, and hills resound his worth.

3 Nym. Of Pan we sing, the best of hunters, Pan, That drives the hart to seek unused ways, And in the chase more than Sylvanus can. Hear, O you groves, and hills resound his praise.

Cho

2 Nym. Of Pan we sing, the best of shepherds, Pan, That keeps our flocks and us, and both leads forth,

Cho.

To better pastures than great Pales can.
Hear, O you groves, and hills resound his

worth.

And while his powers and praises thus we sing,
The valleys let rebound, and all the rivers ring.

The MASQUERS descend, and dance their Entry.

HYMN II.

Pan is our All, by him we breathe, we live,
We move, we are; 'tis he our lambs doth rear,
Our flocks doth bless, and from the store doth give
The warm and finer fleeces that we wear.
He keeps away all heats and colds,
Drives all diseases from our folds ;
Makes every where the spring to dwell,
The ewes to feed, their udders swell;
But if he frown, the sheep, alas !
The shepherds wither, and the grass.

Cho. Strive, strive to please him then, by still increasing thus

The rites are due to him, who doth all right for us.

The MAIN DANCE.

HYMN III.

If yet, if yet,

Pan's orgies you will further fit,
See where the silver-footed fays do sit,
The nymphs of wood and water;
Each tree's and fountain's daughter!
Go take them forth, it will be good
To see them wave it like a wood,
And others wind it like a flood;
In springs,
And rings,

Till the applause it brings,

Wakes Echo from her seat,
The closes to repeat.

Ech. The closes to repeat.

Echo the truest oracle on ground,
Though nothing but a sound.
Though nothing but a sound.
Beloved of Pan the valleys queen,
The valleys queen.

Ech.

Ech.

And often heard, though never seen.

Ech.

Though never seen.

Here the REVELS.

After which re-enter the Fencer.

Fen. Room, room, there; where are you, shepherd? I am come again, with my second part of my bold bloods, the brave gamesters; who assure you by me, that they perceive no such wonder in all is done here, but that they dare adventure another trial. They look for some sheepish devices here in Arcadia, not these, and therefore a hall! a hall! they demand.

Shep. Nay, then they are past pity, let them come, and not expect the anger of a deity to pursue them, but meet them. They have their punishment with their fact: they shall be sheep. Fen. O spare me, by the law of nations, I am but their ambassador.

Shep. You speak in time, sir.

The THEBANS enter for the 2 ANTIMASQUE, which danced,

Shep. Now let them return with their solid heads, and carry their stupidity into Boeotia, whence they brought it, with an emblem of themselves, and their country. This is too pure an air for so gross brains. [They retire.