ARCADES:

PART OF A

MASK,

PRESENTED AT HAREFIELD,

BEFORE

ALICE, COUNTESS DOWAGER OF DERBY.

ARCADES.

Part of an Entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby at Harefield, by some noble persons of her family; who appear on the scene in pastoral habit, moving toward the seat of state, with this Song.

I. SONG.

Look, Nymphs, and Shepherds, look,
What sudden blaze of majesty

Is that which we from hence descry,
Too divine to be mistook:

This, this is she

To whom our vows and wishes bend;
Here our solemn search hath end.

Fame, that, her high worth to raise,
Şeem'd erst so lavish and profuse,
We may justly now accuse
Of detraction from her praise;
Less than half we find exprest,
Envy bid conceal the rest.

Mark, what radiant state she spreads,
In circle round her shining throne,
Shooting her beams like silver threads;
This, this is she alone,

Sitting like a Goddess bright,
In the center of her light.

Might she the wise Latona be,
Or the tower'd Cybele
Mother of a hundred Gods?
Juno dares not give her odds:

Who had thought this clime had held
A deity so unparallell'd ?

As they come forward, the Genius of the wood appears, and turning toward them, speaks.

Genius. Stay, gentle Swains; for, though in
this disguise,

I see bright honour sparkle through your eyes;
Of famous Arcady ye are, and sprung
Of that renowned flood, so often sung,
Divine Alphéus, who by secret sluce
Stole under seas to meet his Arethuse;
And ye, the breathing roses of the wood,
Fair silver-buskin'd Nymphs, as great and good;

I know, this quest of yours, and free intent,
Was all in honour and devotion meant
To the great mistress of yon princely shrine,
Whom, with low reverence I adore as mine;