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SHAKESPEARE AND MUSIC
speaks of the masque as an 'abridgement' for the evening, that is, an entertainment to shorten the hours. The lamentable play of Pyramus and Thisbe follows, which, it will be noticed, has some of the main features of a masque.
Mid's Night's Dream 51, 39
| Theseus. | Say, what abridgment have you for this evening? What masque, what music? … ••••••• [Reads from the paper] "A tedious brief scene of young Pyramus, And his love Thisbe; very tragical mirth." Merry and tragical! Tedious and brief! That is, hot ice, and wonderous strange snow. How shall we find the concord of this discord? |
In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock mentions the procession of a masque through the streets, forbidding Jessica to look out of the window at these 'Christian fools with varnished faces.' The music accompanying the procession is named—viz., drum and fife.
Merchant. 25, 22
| Lancelot. | 'You shall see a masque' … |
| Shylock. | What! are there masques? Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum, And the vile squeaking of the wry neck'd fife, |
