[][]

THE SONGS, CHORUSES, &c.

[Price SIX PENCE.]

[]

THE SONGS, CHORUSES, AND SERIOUS DIALOGUE OF THE MASQUE CALLED The Inſtitution of the GARTER, OR, ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE reſtored.

LONDON: Printed for T. BECKET, and P. A. DE HONDT, in the STRAND. MDCCLXXI.

Advertiſement.

[]

THE eager and almoſt univerſal Curioſity, which the late Inſtallation of the Knights of the Order of the Garter excited in the Publick, ſeemed in a manner to command our Attention, and juſtify our Endeavors to exhibit a Repreſentation of it in the following Maſque: The Difficulty was to give an adequate Idea, in a ſmall Compaſs, of the various Circumſtances of this great Solemnity, conſiſting of the In⯑ſtallation, Proceſſion, and Feaſt.

The late Mr. Gilbert Weſt, publiſhed, ſome Years ago, a Dramatick Poem called The Inſtitution of the Order of the Garter, which has been much admired: It was, however, impoſſible to bring it on the Stage as it was originally written, becauſe, though rich in Machinery, it was little more than a Poem in Dialogue without [vi] Action: Some ſelect Parts of it however, with a few neceſſary Alterations, and the Addition of ſome comic Scenes, were thought a proper Vehicle for the different Ceremonies of this great Feſtival. The Scene is laid in the Reign of Edward the Third, who was the Founder of the Order, after having reſtored that of the Knights of the Round Table, which we have ſuppoſed, with ſome Writers, to be continued at the Inſtitution of the Garter.

No Expence has been ſpared, nor, we hope, any Object of Attention overlooked, which might conduce to make the following Maſque as ſhort, as various, and as faithful to the original Inſtitution as poſſible.

The Songs, Choruſes, and Serious Dialogue are publiſhed, that they may be better under⯑derſtood from the Stage. The comic Parts which are intended merely for the Preparation of the principal Scenes, are not printed, as they would loſe much of their Effect by being ſeparated from the Action of the Performer.

Mr. Weſt, in order to give a greater Variety and to introduce ſome particular Characters into [vii] his Poem, has taken (as he acknowleges in a Note) the Advantage of a Licence uſually allowed to Poets, of departing a little from Chronology, and poſtponing the Inſtitution of the Order for a few Years.

Under the Sanction of this Authority, we have ventured to make uſe of the ſame poetical Licence, by throwing the Inſtitution of the Order as many Years backward, as Mr. Weſt has brought it forward. We have made the Black Prince nine Years younger than he was, when he was Knighted; and we flatter ourſelves that this Anachroniſm will be excuſed for the Sake of the Application.

Some other Liberties of leſs Conſequence are neceſſarily taken for the Sake of rendering the whole more Theatrical; we have had too long an Experience of the publick Indulgence, not to know that they will be readily over⯑looked, ſhould the reſt of the Performance have the good Fortune to be approved.

[]THE SONGS, CHORUSES, &c. IN THE MASQUE CALLED The Inſtitution of the GARTER.

After the OVERTURE, The Curtain riſes and diſcovers, In SCENE the FIRST, THREE SPIRITS.
FIRST SPIRIT.
HITHER, all ye heav'nly pow'rs,
From your empyreal bow'rs;
From the fields for ever gay,
From the ſtar-pav'd milky way,
From the moon's relucent horn,
From the ſtar that wakes the morn;
From the bow, whoſe mingling dyes
Sweetly chear the frowning ſkies;
From the ſilver cloud that ſails,
Shadowy o'er the darken'd vales;
From the elyſiums of the ſky,
Spirits immortal, hither fly!
CHORUS OF SPIRITS.
[2]
Fly, and thro' the limpid air
Guard in pomp, the ſliding car,
Which to his terreſtrial throne
Wafts Britannia's Genius down.
SECOND SPIRIT.
Hither all ye heav'nly pow'rs,
From your empyreal bow'rs!
Chiefly ye, whoſe brows divine
Crown'd with ſtarry circlets ſhine,
Who in various labours try'd,
Once Britannia's ſtrength and pride,
Now in everlaſting reſt
Share the glories of the bleſt!
Peers and nobles of the ſky,
Spirits immortal, hither fly!
CHORUS of BARDS and SPIRITS anſwer.
We fly, and charm the limpid air,
While the ſoftly-ſliding car,
To his ſea-encircled throne,
Wafts Britannia's Genius down.
THIRD SPIRIT.
Hither too, ye tuneful throng,
Maſters of inchanting ſong,
Sacred bards! whoſe rapt'rous ſtrains
Sooth the toiling hero's pains,
Sooth the patriot's gen'rous cares;
Sweetly thro' their raviſh'd ears,
Whiſp'ring to th' immortal mind,
Heav'nly viſions, hopes refin'd;
Hopes of endleſs peace and fame,
Safe from envy's blaſting flame,
Pure, ſincere in thoſe abodes,
Where to throngs of liſt'ning gods
[3] Hymning Bards, to virtue's praiſe,
Tune their never-dying lays.
Sweet encomiaſts of the ſky,
Spirits immortal, hither fly!
The ſcene opens and diſcovers the Genius of England de⯑ſcending, attended by Spirits and Bards, who ſing the following Chorus.
We wake our harps to Britain's weal,
Our boſoms glow with heav'nly love,
The bliſs that ſpotleſs Patriots feel,
Is kindred to the bliſs above.
GENIUS ſpeaks.
Diſdain not, ye bleſt denizons of air,
To breathe this groſſer atmoſphere a while,
Your ſervice I ſhall need; mean time reſort
To yon imperial palace, and in air
Shed your choice influence on the noble train,
There on this ſolemn day aſſembled round
The throne of Britiſh Edward; I a while
Muſt here await th' approach of other Spirits,
Sage Druids, Britain's old philoſophers,
Who ſtill enamour'd of their ancient haunts
Unſeen of mortal eyes, they hover round
Their ruin'd altars, and theſe ſacred oaks:—
But hence, aerial Spirits; lo, they come!
The Spirits go off—the Genius and Bards come forward to meet the Druids in Scene the third.
CHIEF DRUID.
Inform us, happy Spirit, protecting power
Of this our ancient country, wherefore now
From our ſequeſter'd vallies, penſive groves,
And dark receſſes, thou haſt ſummon'd us,
To wait thy orders 'mongſt theſe ſacred oaks?
GENIUS.
[4]
A great event, ſage Druids, that no leſs
Imports, than this your ancient country's fame,
From contemplation, and your ſilent ſhades
Calls you to meet me in this dark receſs.
CHIEF DRUID.
Our country's weal, ev'n from the bliſs of heav'n
Can charm down patriot ſouls to viſit earth,
And in her cauſe exert their holieſt ardors.
GENIUS.
Know, in yon caſtle, whoſe proud battlements
Sit like a regal crown upon the brow
Of that high climbing lawn, doth EDWARD hold
His ſolemn ſeſſion, and this hour receives
The pleas of all th' aſpiring candidates,
Who ſummon'd by the herald's publick voice
To Windſor, as to Fame's bright temple, haſte
From every ſhore; the noble, wiſe, and brave,
Knights, ſenators and ſtateſmen, lords and kings;
Ambitious each to gain the ſplendid prize,
By EDWARD promis'd to tranſcendent worth.
For who of mortals is too great and high
In the career of virtue to contend?
Of theſe, ſelecting the moſt glorious names,
Doth England's monarch purpoſe to compoſe
A princely brotherhood, himſelf the chief,
And worthy ſovereign of th' illuſtrious band;
A band of heroes, liſted in the cauſe
Of honour, virtue, and celeſtial truth,
Under the name, and holy patronage
Of Cappadocian GEORGE, Britannia's Saint.
CHIEF DRUID.
A plan of glory, which beyond the reach
Of his own conqu'ring arms may propagate
[5] The ſovereignty of Britain, and erect
Her monarchs into judges of mankind!
How, Spirit, can we aid this glorious work?
GENIUS.
Strait to the chapel, ſages, bend your way,
And there unſeen, ſupport me in the taſk
To guide our Edward's choice, clear from the miſts
It haply hath contracted from a long
Unebbing current of proſperity,
His intellectual eye—From this day's choice
Of his firſt colleagues, ſhall ſucceeding times
Of Edward judge, and on his fame pronounce.
For dignities and titles, when miſplac'd
Upon the vicious, the corrupt, and vile,
Like princely virgins to low peaſants match'd,
Deſcend from their nobility, and ſoil'd
By baſe alliance, not their pride alone
And native ſplendor loſe, but ſhame retort
Ev'n on the ſacred throne, from whence they ſprung.
So may the luſtre of this order bright,
This eldeſt child of chivalry be ſtain'd,
If, at her firſt eſpouſals, her great ſire,
Caught by the ſpecious outſides, that deceive
And captivate the world, admit the ſuit
Of vain pretenders, void of real worth;
Light, empty bubbles by the wanton gale
Of fortune ſwell'd, and only form'd to dance
And glitter in the ſunſhine of a court.
CHIEF DRUID.
We will attend thee, ſpirit, from thy hallow'd lips,
Breathe forth the ſacred oracles of truth.
GENIUS.
And you, immortal bards, charm with your lays,
(The ſacred ſongs of virtue) the pure air,
That evil ſprites, if any ſuch lurk here,
[6] May quit the hallow'd and enchanted ground,
Nor counter-act our ſacred operations!
[Exeunt Genius and Druids.
Bards remain and ſing the following Semi-Chorus.
CHORUS OF BARDS.
Gentle ſpirit, we obey,
Thus we charm the ſilent air;
Fiends and Demons ſhall not ſtay,
Raptures of the bleſt to ſhare.

SONG.

FIRST BARD.
I.
Ye ſouthern gales, that ever fly
In frolick April's vernal train,
Who, as you ſkim along the ſky,
Dip your light pinions in the main;
Then ſhake them fraught with genial ſhow'rs,
O'er blooming Flora's primroſe-bow'rs.
II.
Now ceaſe awhile your wanton ſport,
Now drive each threat'ning cloud away;
Then to the flow'ry vale reſort,
And hither all its ſweets convey;
And ever, as you dance along,
With ſofteſt murmurs aid our ſong.
Repeat the chorus. Gentle ſpirit, &c.

SCENE IV.

[7]
The Chapel of St. GEORGE.
The KNIGHTS ſeated in their Stalls.
King Edward comes forward, and meets the Prince of Wales.
K. EDWARD.
Edward, approach, belov'd and noble ſon,
In whom my heart more joys, and glories, more
Than in the higheſt pride of ſovereign pow'r:
Laſt I admit thee, Edward Prince of Wales;
Thus to compleat the number of our order,
In evidence whereof—receive this robe
Of heavenly hue, ennobled by the ſhield
And enſign of our faith—about thy knee
Be bound that myſtick Garter; to denote
The bond of honour, that together ties
The brethren of St. George in friendly league,
United to maintain the cauſe of truth
And juſtice only—"May propitious Heav'n
"Grant that thou may'ſt henceforth wear it to his praiſe,
"The exaltation of this noble Order,
"And thy own glory."—With like reverence,
"My ſon, receive and wear this golden chain,
"Graced with the image of Britannia's ſaint,
"Heav'n's valiant ſoldier, Cappadocian GEORGE;
"In imitation of whoſe glorious' deeds,
"May'ſt thou triumphant in each ſtate of life,
"Or proſperous, or adverſe, ſtill ſubdue
"Thy ſpiritual and carnal enemies;
"That not on earth alone thou may'ſt obtain
"The guerdon of thy valour, endleſs praiſe,
"But with the virtuous, and the brave above,
"In ſolemn triumph, wear celeſtial palms,
"To crown thy final nobleſt victory."
[Embraces the Prince.
PRINCE EDWARD.
[8]
Accept, my ſovereign liege, my grateful thanks,
That thou haſt thus vouchſaf'd to place thy ſon
So near thyſelf upon the roll of fame:
And may thy benediction, gracious lord,
May thy paternal vows be heard in heav'n!
That he whom thou haſt liſted in the cauſe
Of truth and virtue, never may forget
His vow'd engagements, nor defraud the hopes,
By ſoiling with diſhonourable deeds
The luſtre of that order, which thy name
Shou'd teach him to reſpect and to adorn.
CHORUS.
Let his name,
With honour and fame,
Down the tide of ages roll:
Glory ſhall fire him,
Virtue inſpire him,
'Till, bleſs'd and bleſſing,
Power poſſeſſing,
From earth to heav'n he lifts his ſoul!
FIRST PART ends.

PART THE SECOND.

[9]

SCENE I.

A gate of Windſor-Caſtle.
This SCENE paſſes among the COMIC CHARACTERS, and the following Song is introduced.

SONG.

I.
O the glorious Inſtallation!
Happy nation!
You ſhall ſee the King and Queen,
Such a ſcene!
Valour he Sir,
Virtue ſhe Sir,
Which our hearts will ever win;
Sweet her face is,
With ſuch graces,
Shew what goodneſs dwells within.
II.
O the glorious Inſtallation!
Happy nation!
You ſhall ſee the noble Knights!
Charming ſights!
Feathers wagging,
Velvet dragging,
Trailing, ſailing on the ground;
Loud in talking,
Proud in walking,
Nodding, ogling, ſmirking round—
O the glorious &c.
[10]
The Scene opens, diſcovering a proſpect of Windſor-Caſtle, from within the gate.
THE PROCESSION of the KNIGHTS TO ST. GEORGE'S HALL.
SECOND PART ends.

PART THE THIRD.

[11]

SCENE I.

St. GEORGE's HALL.
Where the Knights are diſcovered feaſting at the Round Table.
After the different ceremonies, the Scene cloſes, and the comic Characters have a Scene in another Apartment near the Hall.
Then the Scene changes to a Garden. Soft Muſic is heard at a diſtance. The Genius of England leads on King Edward.
EDWARD.
What art thou, ſtranger, and why thus apart
With looks of ſweet benevolence and love,
To theſe delightful ſhades, with which my eyes,
If mem'ry fails not, ne'er were charm'd before;
Draw'ſt Thou our ſteps by ſome reſiſtleſs pow'r?
GENIUS.
Behold the guardian Genius of this iſle,
Deſcending from the realms of cloudleſs day!
Inviſible I've watch'd thy glorious deeds,
But on this ſolemn day I have vouchſaf'd
To manifeſt my preſence; to declare
Not in thoſe whiſpers, which have often ſpoke
Peace to thy conſcious heart, but audibly,
And evident to all, th' aſſent of Heav'n
To the great buſineſs, which hath gather'd here
This troop of worthies from all nations round:
Know that thoſe actions which are great and good,
[12] Receive a nobler ſanction from the free
And univerſal voice of all mankind,
Which is the voice of Heav'n, than from the higheſt,
The moſt illuſtrious act of regal pow'r.
This noble ſanction, Edward, in the name,
Not of this age alone, but lateſt time,
Here do I ſolemnly annex to each
Of thy great acts, but chief to this moſt wiſe,
Moſt virtuous inſtitution, which extends
Wide as thy fame, beyond your empire's bound,
A prize of virtue publiſh'd to the world.
Ye regiſters of Heav'n record the deed!
[A Chorus of Bards, Druids and Spirits unſeen, repeat it]
Ye regiſters of Heav'n record the deed!
EDWARD.
'Tis wond'rous all! my heart expands beyond
Its mortal bounds to more than earthly bliſs!
GENIUS.
More wonders are prepar'd for thee, O king!
Behold what precious fruit the tree ſhall bear,
Thy hand has planted in this happy iſle!
Viſions of glory ſtrike his raptur'd ſight!
Ye unborn ages, croud upon his ſoul!
Spirits, attend!—unfold futurity!—
Now, Edward, taſte that bliſs, which ever flows
From royal virtues, has flow'd, and ſhall flow
From thee, Friend, Guardian, Father of thy people.
[Here a VISION.]
EDWARD.
This is too much for human ſtrength to bear,
Hold, hold my heart—th' exceſs of joy o'erwhelms me.
GENIUS.
[13]
Now, re-aſcend the ſkies, immortal Spirits!
Th' important act, that drew you down to earth
Is finiſh'd—ſpare we now his mortal ſenſe,
That cannot long endure th' unſhrouded beam
Of higher natures—let him undiſturb'd,
But not unaided by the heav'nly pow'rs,
Compleat th' illuſtrious work, which future kings,
Struck with the beauty of the noble plan,
Shall emulouſly labour to maintain:
And may thy ſpirit, Edward, be their guide,
In ev'ry chapter Thou henceforth preſide,
In ev'ry breaſt infuſe thy virtuous flame,
And teach them to reſpect their country's fame.
The SCENE changes.
GENIUS.
Aſtoniſhment ſeals up his lips—his heart
Runs o'er with gratitude—thy God-like mind,
Exalts thee, Edward, above human-kind;
And from the realms of everlaſting day,
Calls down celeſtial Bards thy praiſe to ſing;
Calls a bright troop of Spirits to ſurvey
Thee, the great miracle on earth, a PATRIOT KING!
Enter Bards, Druids, and Spirits, who all join Chorus.
Hail! mighty nation, ever fam'd in war!
Lo, heav'n deſcends, thy feſtivals to ſhare;
Celeſtial Bards in living lays ſhall ſing,
BRITANNIA's glories, and her MATCHLESS KING.
End of the MASQUE.

Appendix A The following EXTRACTS from Selden's Titles of Honor, and Aſhmole's Order of the Garter, are inſerted to ſhew the Authority upon which we have founded ſome Part of our Inſtallation.

[14]

AND ſo much the rather alſo, becauſe we know by others of our own country, that in the ſelf-ſame year, a ſolemn and great meeting of Knights was appointed by the King at Windſor Caſtle, for the ſet⯑ting up of his Round Table there, &c.

And it ſeems that out of the plot and purpoſe of this Round Table at Windſor, erected in the ſame year wherein the Order of the New Garter was inſtituted and appointed to be celebrated on St. George's day of the ſame year, as we may collect out of Froiſſart alſo, the Order itſelf had chief part at leaſt of its original. And the other traditions touching the Garter of the Queen, or of the Counteſs of Kent and Saliſbury, may well ſtand with this, thus far, that the word and the uſe of the Garter, began as the traditions ſuppoſe, but that the Order was raiſed chiefly out of this of the Round Table of that time, as out of a Seminary. For the Round Table was in ſpecial uſe in thoſe ages, for the drawing together of the braver Knights and Ladies, &c.

Froiſſart likewiſe ſays, Et ordonna (Edward the Third) que d'an en an le jour Saint Gregore, s'en feroit la feſte dedans le chateau de Vindeſore, le quell chateau le Roy Artur avoit fait faire autreffois edifier et in icelui tenir la noble Table ronde, &c.

SELDEN, edit. 1672. pag. 658.

King Edward the Third having deſigned to reſtore the honor of the Round Table, held a juſte at Windſor, in the 18th year of his reign, (but there is an old manu⯑ſcript chronicle that has theſe words: King Edward in his 19th year begun his Round Table, and ordained the [15] day annually to be kept there at Whitſuntide) and this meeting, in truth, occaſioned the foundation of the moſt noble Order of the Garter, as ſhall be noted by and by.

Aſhmole, edit. 1672, pag. 96.

He (Edward the Third) did thereupon firſt deſign (as being invited thereto by its antient fame) the reſtauration of King Arthur's Round Table, which he exhibited with magnificent haſtiludes and general juſts, to invite hither the gallant and active ſpirits from abroad; and upon diſcovery of their courage and abi⯑lity in the exerciſe of arms, to draw them to his party, and oblige them to himſelf.

Though King Edward ſo far advanced the honor of a Garter, as that the Order did derive its title and denomination from it; yet it is moſt evident, that he founded this more famous Order, not to give reputa⯑tion to, or perpetuate an effeminate occaſion, but to adorn martial virtue with honor, rewards, and ſplen⯑dor: to increaſe virtue and valour in the hearts of his nobility; or, as Andrew du Cheſne ſaith, to honor military virtue with ſome glorious favours and rewards; that ſo true nobility (as is noted in the preface to the black book of the Order) after long and hazardous adventures, ſhould not enviouſly be deprived of that honor which it hath really deſerved; and that active and hardy youth might not want a ſpur in the pro⯑feſſion of virtue, which is to be eſteemed glorious and eternal.

Upon theſe grounds no doubt does our learned Selden affirm, that this Order was raiſed chiefly out of the Round Table of that time (the Knights thereof being in the flower of that age) as out of a ſeminary.

Aſhmole, page 182.
FINIS.
Distributed by the University of Oxford under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
Zitationsvorschlag für dieses Objekt
TextGrid Repository (2020). TEI. 4199 The songs choruses and serious dialogue of the masque called The institution of the garter or Arthur s round table restored. University of Oxford Text Archive. . https://hdl.handle.net/21.T11991/0000-001A-595A-C