Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 648 pages of information about Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama.

Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 648 pages of information about Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama.

The following year appeared the anonymous ’Speeches delivered to her Majestie this last progresse, at the Right Honorable the Lady Russels, at Bissam, the Right Honorable the Lorde Chandos, at Sudley, at the Right Honorable the Lord Norris, at Ricorte.’  This piece being very characteristic of a certain sort of courtly shows, and itself possessing rather greater intrinsic interest than is to be found in most of the compositions we shall have to examine, may lay claim to a somewhat more detailed discussion.  As the Queen approached through the woods towards Bisham, cornets were heard to sound, and presently there appeared a wild man who began his speech thus: 

I followed this sounde, as enchanted; neither knowing the reason why, nor how to bee ridde of it:  unusuall to these Woods, and, I feare, to our gods prodigious.  Sylvanus whom I honour, is runne into a Cave:  Pan, whom I envye, courting of the Shepheardesse.  Envie I thee Pan?  No, pitty thee; an eie-sore to chast Nymphes, yet still importunate.  Honour thee Sylvanus?  No, contemne thee; fearefull of Musicke in the Woods, yet counted the god of the Woods.

He then proceeds to welcome the royal visitor.  Further on ’At the middle of the Hill sate Pan, and two Virgins keeping sheepe, and sowing in their Samplers.’  Pan courts the shepherdesses, who mock him, and finally all join in welcome of the Queen.  ‘At the bottome of the hill,’ we read further, ’entring into the hous, Ceres with her Nymphes in an harvest Cart, meete her Majesty, having a Crowne of wheat-ears with a Jewell.’  Ceres sings: 

Swel Ceres now, for other Gods are shrinking;
Pomona pineth,
Fruitlesse her tree;
Fair Phoebus shineth
Onely on mee. 
Conceit doth make me smile whilst I am thinking,... 
All other Gods of power bereven,
Ceres only Queene of heaven.

With Robes and flowers let me be dressed;
Cynthia that shineth
Is not so cleare,
Cynthia declineth
When I appeere,
Yet in this Ile shee raignes as blessed, ... 
And in my eares still fonde Fame whispers,
Cynthia shalbe Ceres Mistres.

She then proceeds to welcome the Queen as ‘Greater then Ceres.’  At Sudely Castle her Majesty was received by an old shepherd with a long speech; whereafter we read:  ‘Sunday, Apollo running after Daphne,’ a show accompanied by a speech from another shepherd, at the end whereof, the metamorphosis safely accomplished, ’her Majesty sawe Apollo with the tree, having on one side one that sung, on the other one that plaide.’

Sing you, plaie you, but sing and play my truth,
This tree my Lute, these sighes my notes of ruth: 
The Lawrell leafe for ever shall bee greene,
And chastety shalbe Apolloes Queene. 
If gods maye dye, here shall my tombe be plaste,
And this engraven, ‘Fonde Phoebus, Daphne chaste.’

’The song ended, the tree rived, and Daphne issued out, Apollo ranne after, with these words:’ 

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Pastoral Poetry and Pastoral Drama from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.