Hypnerotomachia: The Strife of Loue in a Dreame
yeelding all commodities, warme hilles, greene woods and sweet coole
shadowes.
Also the inestimable furniture, the attendant housholde and great
number, their excellent seruice, the diuersitie of youthes, and all in
the prime of their yeares. The delightfull presence of the Nymphes, both
attending abroad in the presence and chambers, her baser sort, their
honourable and gracious behauiours, their diuersitie of apparrel, attire
and dressings set with Pearle and stone, in an allowed, pleasant &
louely sort, as any can imagine or expresse. With these infinite riches,
supreame delightes, and immeasurable treasure, neither _Darius_,
_Cr[ae]sus_, or any other humane state, whatsoeuer might any way
compare.
And thus to conclude, being ouercome with the glorie of them, I know not
what more to say, but that I stood amazed, and as it were senceles, and
yet in great delight and without wearines, beholding those present
obiects, and casting with my selfe what fate and destinate should
conduct and leade mee into such a place.
But afterwardes finding my selfe in such an accumulation of glorie,
pleasant seate, happie Country, great contentment and tryumphant
company, such as _Clodius_ the Player in Tragedies neuer had seene. I
was but moderately conuerted, notwithstanding the promise of the Queene,
to fauour my amorous desire, accounting all, but as eye pleasures that
hitherto I had seene and had been presented vnto me, stil desiring a
greater happines.
For which cause, and for the greater setting out of the excesse and
abounding excellency, beyond all the rest of her royall magnificence,
euery one sitting in their place after the miraculous, wonderful, and
sumpteous banket, without any delaie, she commanded a game to be playd
by parsonages, not onelie woorthie the beholding, but of eternall
remembrance, which was a game at Chesse, in this sort as followeth.
By the entraunce of the curtaine there came in thirty two Nymphes,
whereof sixteene were apparrelled in cloth of gold (eyght vniformally
without difference of degrees) afterwards one of those sixteene was
apparrelled in princely robes lyke a King, and the other lyke a Queene,
with two tower-keepers or Rookes, as wee tearme them, two
counsell-keepers or Secretaries, wee tearme them Bishoppes, and two
Knights. In like sort were eight other in cloth of siluer, vnder the
like gouernement and magistracie as aforesaid.
Euerie one of these according to their duties, tooke theyr places vppon
the checkers of the pauement, that is, sixteene in golde of one side in
two rowes, and sixteene in siluer of the contrarie side.
The Musicke beganne vppon a sodayne with a rare inuention to sound a
charge with a pleasaunt concord, participating togeather a sweete and
thundering melodie, hauing in it a deuine furie.
At the measured sounde and time of the Musicke vppon their checkers,
as it pleased the King to commaund, the pawns turning themselues with a
decent reuolution, honouring the King and the Queene, leapt vppon an
other checker before them.
The King of the white men, his musicke sounding, commaunded her forward
that stoode before the Queene, and the same with lyke reuerent behauiour
marched forward her continent, and stoode still. And according to the
mensuration of the musicall time in this order, so they chaunged their
places, or continued vppon the checkers dauncing, vntill that they were
eyther taken or commaunded forward by the King.
If the musicke kepte still one time, those eyght vnyforme pawnes did
spende the time in marching forwardes into an other checker, neuer
comming backe vntill that worthily without touch or appalement of
courage, they had leapt vppon the line of that square where was the
residence of the Queene, proceeding straight on, vnlesse she tooke a
prisoner by a Diagonick line.
The Bishop went in a Diagonike line, still holding that coloured checker
wherein he stood first.
The Knight ouer two checkers before him taketh the next of eyther
handes, and of a contrary colour to that hee stood in immediately
before.
The Castle-keepers or Rookes might passe ouer manie checkers streight on
as they pleased at commaundement, so that they might goe one, two,
three, foure, or fiue checkers, keeping a measure, and not staying in
their march.
The King might goe vpon anie checker if none were in it, or backeward,
and cause any other to remooue for him, and make him roome.
The Queene might goe any way, but it is best when shee is neare her
husband on euery side.
And whensoeuer the officers of eyther of the Kings shall finde one
without guarde of helpe, they take her prisoner, and both kissing one
another, she that is ouercome and taken, goeth foorth and standeth by.
Thus they continued playing and dauncing according to the time of the
musicke, with greate pleasure, solace, and applause, vntill the King of
the siluer Nymphes was victour and conquerour.
This solemne sport, what with resistance flying backe, and seconding of
one an other, with such a measured circulation, reuerence, pause, and
modest continencie, endured the space of an hower, whereat I tooke such
pleasure and delyght, that I imagyne (and not amysse) that I was rapt
vpon the sodaine from the liking of the sportes of Olympus to a newe
felicitie.
This first game beeing ended, and conquest obtayned, all retourned into
theyr accustomed places, and in like manner as at the first, so the
second time euerie one in theyr appoynted checkers, the Musicke
chaunging theyr measure, so the moouings and gestures of the players
were altered.
And obseruing the time of the musicke in a conuenient order, and
approoued gesture and arte, that it was no neede to commaund or say any
thing.
But the cunning and experte Nymphes, with theyr plentifull tresses
effused ouer theyr delicate shoulders hung wauing, and in theyr motion
forwardes would streame out at length, somewhat shewing their backes,
about their heades wearing Garlandes and Crownes of Violets. And when
any one was taken, they lifted vp their armes and clapt handes. Thus
playing and coursing vp and downe, the first continued still conquerour.
In the last game and daunsing, they beeing all returned to their
distributed places, the Musicke againe sounded a measure phrygiall in as
perfect and prouoking furie as euer _Marcias_ of _Phrygia_ inuented.
The King in robes of Golde, caused the yoong Damosell that stood before
the Queene, to marche forwarde to the third Checker, direct in the first
remooue, whereupon immediately there was seene a battaile and Torney,
with so swift and sodaine forces, bending themselues to the grounde as
it were lying close vpon their Garde, and presently vpon it capering vp
with a turne twise aboue ground, one iust opposite against an other, and
vpon their downe come withall a turne vpon the toe thrise about.
All this Action they did at one time, with such a grace and agilitie, as
nothing could be better, with their lowe inclinatitions, high Capers and
Turnings, without affectation of strayning, as it should seeme with
facilitie and careles ease at pleasure and sweete iestures, as in such a
thing may bee imagined, and not else where to bee seene. Neuer any one
troubling an other, but who so was taken prisoner, did presently kisse
their Conquerour, and voyded the place. And the lesser number that there
was, the more pleasure it was to perceiue the pollicies of either sides
to ouercome other.
And such an order and motion was vsed of euerie one, in a commendable
sort without fault, as the measure and time of the Musike appointed,
stirryng euen them that looked on to haue a motion in their sinowes and
mindes to doo the lyke, there was such a concord and agreement betwixt
nature and the Musike especially, seeing the performance of the same in
the actions of others.
Vpon this occasion I was moued to call to remembrance the force of
_Timotheus_, the most cunning musitian, who with his voice and measure
vppon his Instrument would prouoke the great Macedonian _Alexander_,
violently to take Armes, and presently altering his voyce and tune, to
forget the same, and sit downe contentedly. In this third game, they
apparrelled in gold did triumph in the victoritie.
Thus honourably with exceeding pleasure and great solace, this sumpteous
feast beeing ended, euerie one framed themselues to sit downe. And I
rysing vp, made reuerence before the Royall seate of her sacred
maiestie, and kneelyng downe vpon my knee, she thus said vnto me.
_Poliphilus_, forget now, and wype out of thy remembrance all forepassed
griefes, occursiue troubles, pensiue conceites, and ouergone daungers,
because that I am assured of thy forthwith full contentment of desire.
And seeing that thy determination is to perseuere resolutely in the
amorous flames and loue of _Polia_, I thinke it conuenient, that for the
recouerie thereof, thou repaire to the three Portes, which are the
resident places of the high and mightie Queene _Telosia_, in which place
vppon euerie of those Portes and Gates, thou shalt see her tytle and
name inscrypt. Read it diligently, but for thy better direction and
safegarde, thou shalt haue to accompany thee, two of my handmaydes,
which know verie well the way thither, and therefore go on vndoubtedly
with a happie successe.
And thereupon with a princely bountie, she drew of from her finger a
Ring of gold, hauing set in it an Anchit, and deliuered it vnto me to
remember her bountie by.
At this aduise and precious gift, I became amphasiatike, not knowing
what to saie or doo, in requitall or giuing of thankes. Which her
Highnes perceiuing, motherly and with a naturall promptnes in a
maiestical grauitie, turned her countenance to two noble and goodly
Nymphes, attending neere vnto her Royall and imperiall Throne, saying
thus to one of them vpon her right side.
_Logistica_, you shall bee one that shall accompanye our guest
_Poliphilus_, and with a sacred and honourable grace, shee turned to the
left hande saying, _Thelemia_, you shall also go with him. And both of
you shewe and instruct him at what Gate hee must remayne, and then
_Poliphilus_, they shall bring you to an other mightie and maiesticall
Queene, who if shee shall bee bountifull vnto thee in entertainment thou
art happie, if contrarie, then discontented.
Notwithstandyng, none doth knowe her intent by her countenance, because
that sometime shee sheweth her selfe full of fauour, loue, and pleasant
dispositions. An other time shee is malignant, frowarde, disdainefull,
with vnstable incursyue passions. And shee it is that determineth such
euents as thou seekest after. And for her obscure condition, shee is
rightly called _Thelosia_.
Her residence is not in suche a stately Pallaice, as thou seest mee to
dwell in.
Therefore I would haue thee to vnderstande, that the chiefe woorkeman in
the creation of nature, did make no thyng comparable to mee, neyther can
the earth shew thee greater treasure then to come to my presence and
taste of my bountie, obtaine my fauour and participate of my qualitie.
And therefore esteeme of it according to the value, for that thou
findest in me, is a heauenly Tallent aboue all earthly Iewels, for I
haue not had my residence in man since his fall.
They may imagine of mee, but they knowe mee not, neyther doo I beare any
rule with them to the good of my selfe.
Nowe the Queene _Telosia_, shee dwelleth in a place of cloudie darkenes,
her house is kept close and shut, for that shee will not shew her selfe
vnto man, nor anothomise, discouer, and laye open her selfe vnto any as
shee is, and for this cause the euent of her variable determination is
kept secret.
But in a maruellous sort considerately, shee transformeth her selfe
against the haire, into diuers fashions, not manifesting her selfe,
although desired.