[753] Before 1584 the Chapel Children acted publicly in a Blackfriars'
inn-yard. See pp. cxi-cxxxv, Lyly's _Endimion_, Holt & Co.
[754] "It hapned during the time of his Triumvirat (Lepidus's), that
in a certain place where he was, the magistrates attended him to his
lodging environed as it were with woods on everie side: the next morrow
Lepidus ... in bitter tearmes and minatorie words chid them for that
they had laid him where he could not sleep a wink all night long, for
the noise and singing that the birds made about him. They being thus
checked and rebuked, devised against the next night to paint in a piece
of parchment of great length a long Dragon or serpent, wherewith they
compassed the place where Lepidus should take his repose; the sight of
which serpent thus painted so terrified the birds, that they ... were
altogether silent."--Pliny, _Hist. of World_, Holland, 1635, xxxv. 11.
[755] The favor of the Queen. Elizabeth, like Minerva, was called
Pallas because of her celibacy. These words, with ll. 12, 13, p. 331,
show that the Court performance came first.
[756] The author, who presents the play.
[757] 'Seeming'?
[758] 'Slightly'? M.
[759] Holland, IX. 55; Topsell, _Hist. of Four-footed Beasts_, 1607, p.
267.
[760] A small, plover-like Nile bird.
[761] "Coming once to Myndos (Dorian colony on Carian coast), and
seeing their Gates very large, and their City but small, [Diogenes]
said, 'You Men of Myndos, I advise you to shut up your Gates for
fear your town should run out.'"--Diogenes Laertius, _Lives of
Philosophers_, 1606, VI. 425.
The Prologue at the Court.
WE are ashamed that our bird, which fluttereth by twilight, seeming
a swan, should[762] bee proved a bat, set against the sun. But,
as Jupiter placed Silenus asse among the starres, and Alcibiades
covered his pictures, being owles and apes, with a curtaine
imbroidered with lions and eagles, so are we enforced upon a rough
discourse to draw on a smooth excuse, resembling lapidaries who 5
thinke to hide the cracke in a stone by setting it deepe in gold.
The gods supped once with poore Baucis;[763] the Persian kings
sometimes shaved stickes; our hope is Your Highnesse wil at this
time lend an eare to an idle pastime. Appion, raising Homer from
hell, demanded only who was his father;[764] and we, calling 10
Alexander from his grave, seeke only who was his love. Whatsoever
wee present, we wish it may be thought the dancing of Agrippa[765]
his shadowes, who, in the moment they were seene, were of any shape
one would conceive; or Lynces,[766] who, having a quicke sight to
discerne, have a short memory to forget. With us it is like to 15
fare as with these torches, which giving light to others consume
themselves; and we shewing delight to others shame ourselves.