The Maids Tragedy. Beaumont Francis

and through the glad Boughs sing

                         Many soft welcomes to the lusty spring.

                         These are our musick: next, thy watry race

                         Bring on in couples; we are pleas'd to grace

                         This noble night, each in their richest things

                         Your own deeps or the broken vessel brings;

                         Be prodigal, and I shall be as kind,

                         And shine at full upon you.

      Nep. Ho the wind

                         Commanding Eolus!

      [Enter Eolus out of a Rock.

      Eol. Great Neptune!

      Nep. He.

      Eol. What is thy will?

      Nep. We do command thee free Favonius and thy milder winds to wait Upon our Cinthia, but tye Boreas straight; He's too rebellious.

      Eol. I shall do it.

      Nep. Do, great master of the flood, and all below,

                         Thy full command has taken.

      Eol. Ho! the main;

                         Neptune.

      Nep. Here.

      Eol. Boreas has broke his chain,

                        And struggling with the rest, has got away.

      Nep. Let him alone, I'le take him up at sea;

                        He will not long be thence; go once again

                        And call out of the bottoms of the Main,

                        Blew Proteus, and the rest; charge them put on

                        Their greatest pearls, and the most sparkling stone

                        The bearing Rock breeds, till this night is done

                        By me a solemn honour to the Moon;

                        Flie like a full sail.

      Eol. I am gone.

      Cin. Dark night,

                        Strike a full silence, do a thorow right

                        To this great Chorus, that our Musick may

                        Touch high as heaven, and make the East break day

                        At mid-[n]ight.

      [Musick.

SONG

                        Cinthia to thy power, and them we obey.

                        Joy to this great company, and no day

                        Come to steal this night away,

                        Till the rites of love are ended,

                        And the lusty Bridegroom say,

                        Welcome light of all befriended.

                        Pace out you watry powers below, let your feet

                        Like the Gallies when they row, even beat.

                        Let your unknown measures set

                        To the still winds, tell to all

                        That Gods are come immortal great,

                        To honour this great Nuptial.

      The Measure. Second Song.

                        Hold back thy hours dark night, till we have done,

                                   The day will come too soon;

                        Young Maids will curse thee if thou steal'st away,

                                   And leav'st their blushes open to the day.

                                   Stay, stay, and hide the blushes of the Bride.

                        Stay gentle night, and with thy darkness cover

                                   The kisses of her Lover.

                        Stay, and confound her tears, and her shrill cryings,

                                   Her weak denials, vows, and often dyings;

                                   Stay and hide all, but help not though she

                                   call.

      Nep. Great Queen of us and Heaven,

                        Hear what I bring to make this hour a full one,

                        If not her measure.

      Cinth. Speak Seas King.

      Nep. Thy tunes my Amphitrite joyes to have,

                         When they will dance upon the rising wave,

                         And court me as the sails, my Trytons play

                         Musick to lead a storm, I'le lead the way.

      Song. Measure.

                       _To bed, to bed; come Hymen, lead the Bride,

                            And lay her by her Husbands side:

                            Bring in the Virgins every one

                            That grieve to lie alone:

                       That