ARCA DE S.

*Part of an Entertainment presented to the Countess Dowager of Derby at Harefield, by fome noble perfons of her family, who appear on the scene in pastoral habit, moving toward the seat of ftate, with this Song.

L

I. SONG.

OOK Nymphs, and Shepherds look,
What sudden blaze of majesty

Is that which we from hence descry,

* Part of an entertainment presented to the countess of Derby at HARE FIELD, &c.] We are told by Norden, an accurate topographer who wrote about the year 1590, in his SPECULUM BRITANNIA, under HAREFIELD in Middlefex, "There fir Edmond Anderson knight, "lord chief Iuftice of the common pleas, hath a faire house standing "on the edge of the hill. The riuer Colne paffing neere the fame, "through the pleasant meddowes and sweet paftures, yealding both "delight and profit." SPEC. BRIT. P. i. pag. 21. I viewed this houfe a few years ago, when it was for the moft part remaining in its original state. It is near Uxbridge: and Milton, when he wrote ArCADES, was ftill living with his father at Horton near Colnebrooke in the fame neighbourhood. He mentions the fingular felicity he had in vain anticipated, in the fociety of his friend Deodate, on the fhady banks of the river Colne. EPITAPH. DAMON. v. 149.

Imus, et arguta paulum recubamus in umbra,
Aut ad aquas CoLNI, &c.

Too divine to be mistook :

This, this is the

5

Amidft the fruitful and delightful fcenes of this river, the Nymphs and Shepherds had no reason to regret, as in the THIRD SONG, the Arcadian “Ladon's lillied fhore."

Unquestionably this Mafk was a much longer performance. Milton feems only to have written the poetical part, confiiting of thefe three Songs and the recitative Soliloquy of the Genius. The reft was probably profe and machinery. In many of Jonion's MASQUES, the poet but rarely appears, amidit a cumbersome exhibition of heathen gods and mythology.

ARCADES was acted by perfons of Lady Derby's own family. The Genius fays, v. 26.

Stay gentle fwains, for though in this difguife,

I fee bright honour sparkle through your eyes.

That is," Although ye are disguised like ruftics, and wear the habit "of fhepherds, I perceive that ye are of honourable birth, your no"bility cannot be concealed."

V. 1. Look Nymphs; and Shepherds look, &c.] See the ninth divifion of Spenfer's EPITHALAMION. And Spenfer's APRILL, in praise of queen Elizabeth.

See, where the fits upon the graffie greene, &c,

See alfo Fletcher's FAITHFUL SHEPHERDESS, A. i. S. i. vol. iii. p. 150. Where the Satyre ftops, at feeing the fhepherdess Clorin. The Syrinx bright:

But behold a fairer fight.

For in thy fight,

Shines more aweful majefty, &c.

5. This, this is foe.] Our curiofity is gratified in difcovering, even from flight and almost imperceptible traites, that Milton had here been looking back to Jonfon, the moft eminent mafk-writer that had yet appeared, and that he had fallen upon fome of his formularies and modes of addrefs. For thus Jonfon, in an Entertaynment at Altrope, 1603. WORKS, 1616. p. 874.

This is fhee,

This is thee,

In whose world of grace, &c.

We shall find other petty imitations from Jonfon. Milton fays, v.106.
Though Syrinx your Pan's miftrefs were

Yet Syrinx well might wait on her,
N

So

To whom our vows and wishes bend;
Here our folemn search hath end.

Fame, that her high worth to raise,
Seem'd erst so lavish and profuse,
We may justly now accuse
Of detraction from her praise;
Lefs than half we find expreft,
Envy bid conceal the reft.

Mark what radiant ftate fhe spreads,
In circle round her shining throne,

Shooting her beams like filver threads;

This, this is fhe alone,

Sitting like a Goddess bright,

In the center of her light.

So Jonfon, ibid. p. 871. Of the queen and young prince.

That is Cypariffus' face,

And the dame has Syrinx' grace;

O, that Pan were now in place, &c.

Again, Milton fays, v. 46.

And curl the grove

In ringlets quaint.

So Jonfon, in a Mafque at Welbeck, 1633. v. 15.

When was old Sherwood's head more QUAINTLY CURL'D ?

10

15

But fee below, at v. 46. And OBSERVAT. on Spenser's F. Q. vol. ii.

256.

Juno dares not give her odds;

Who had thought this clime had held

A deity fo unparallel'd?

25

As they come forward, the Genius of the wood appears, and turning toward them, speaks.

GENIU S.

TAY gentle Swains, for though in this disguise,

STAY

I fee bright honour sparkle through your eyes; Of famous Arcady ye are, and fprung

Of that renowned flood, fo often fung,
Divine Alpheus, who by fecret fluce
Stole under feas to meet his Arethuse

And ye, the breathing roses of the wood,
Fair filver-buskin'd Nymphs, as great and good,
I know this quest of yours, and free intent
Was all in honour and devotion meant
To the great mistress of yon princely shrine,
Whom with low reverence I adore as mine,

30

35

And with all helpful fervice will comply
To further this night's glad folemnity;

And lead ye where
ye may more near behold 40
What shallow-fearching Fame hath left untold ;
Which I full oft amidst thefe fhades alone
Have fat to wonder at, and gaze upon :

For know, by lot from Jove I am the Power

Of this fair wood, and live in oaken bower, 45 To nurfe the faplings tall, and curl the grove

46.

And curl the grove.] So Drayton, POLYOLB. S. vii. vol. ii. p. 786. Of a grove on a hill.

Where the her CURLED head unto the eye may fhew.

Again, ibid. p. 789.

Banks crown'd with CURLED groves.

Again, ibid. S. xii. vol. iii. p 905.

Her CURLED head so high, that forefts far and near, &c.

Again, ibid. S. xv. vol. iii. p. 948.

Greeting each CURLED grove.

And in a line which perhaps Jonfon remembered, ibid. S. xxxiii. vol. iii. p. 11II.

Where Sherwood her cURL'D front into the cold doth shove.
And Jonfon, again, Tó SIR R. WROTH, edit. 1616. p. 822..
Along'ft the CURLED Woods, and painted meades.

In Browne's INNER TEMPLE MASQUE, p. 130. edit. Davies.
She without ftormes the sturdy oakes can teare,

And turne their rootes where late their CURL'D tops were.

And in his B. PASTORALS, B. i. S. iv. p. 78.

And trees that on the hill-fide comely grew

Did nod their CURLED heads..

And a tree has" fpreading armes and CURLED top," ibid. B. ii. S. iv, p. 196. Compare Note on IL PENS. v. 50.