noted, that those things which I here set down are such as do naturally take the sense, and not respect petty wonderments.[1] It is true, the alterations of scenes, so it be quietly and without noise, are things of great beauty and pleasure; for they feed and relieve the eye, before it be full of the same object. Let the scenes abound with light, especially coloured and varied; and let the masquers, or any other, that are to come down from the scene, have some motions upon the scene itself before their coming down; for it draws the eye strangely, and makes it with great pleasure to desire to see that it cannot perfectly discern. Let the songs be loud and cheerful, and not chirpings or pulings.[2] Let the music likewise be sharp and loud, and well placed. The colours that shew best by candle-light, are white, carnation, and a kind of sea-water-green; and oes,[3] or spangs,[4] as they are of no great cost, so they are of most glory.[5] As for rich embroidery, it is lost and not discerned. Let the suits of the masquers be graceful, and such
- ↑ Wonderment. Surprise.
- ↑ Puling. Whining.
- ↑ Oes. Small round spangles used to ornament dress in the seventeenth century.
"The Ornaments of Honor were these: a rich full robe of blew silke girt about her, a mantle of siluer worne ouerthwart, ful gathered, and descending in folds behind: a vaile of net lawne, enbrodered with Oos and Spangl'd." George Chapman. The Memorable Maske of the two Honorable Houses or Inns of Court; the Middle Temple, and Lyncolns Inne. . . . "With a description of their whole show."
"Fair Helena; who more engilds the night
Than all yon fiery O's and eyes of light."
Shakspere. A Midsummer-Night's Dream. iii. 2.
- ↑ Spang. A shining object or ornament; a spangle.
"The compass heaven, smooth without grain or fold,
All set with spangs of glitt'ring stars untold."
Bacon. The Translation of the CIVth Psalm.
- ↑ Glory. Brilliancy, splendor.
