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Of Masques and Triumphs
by Francis Bacon |
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These things are but toys, to come amongst such serious
observations. But yet, since princes will have such things, it is
better they should be graced with elegancy, than daubed with cost.
Dancing to song, is a thing of great state and pleasure. I
understand it, that the song be in quire, placed aloft, and
accompanied with some broken music; and the ditty fitted to the
device. Acting in song, especially in dialogues, hath an extreme
good grace; I say acting, not dancing (for that is a mean and vulgar
thing); and the voices of the dialogue would be strong and manly (a
base and a tenor; no treble); and the ditty high and tragical; not
nice or dainty. Several quires, placed one over against another, and
taking the voice by catches, anthem-wise, give great pleasure. Turning
dances into figure, is a childish curiosity. And generally let it be
noted, that those things which I here set down, are such as do
naturally take the sense, and not respect petty wonderments. 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, specially colored 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 gongs be loud and cheerful, and
not chirpings or pulings. Let the music likewise be sharp and loud,
and well placed. The colors that show best by candle-light are
white, carnation, and a kind of sea-water-green; and oes, or spangs,
as they are of no great cost, so they are of most glory. As for rich
embroidery, it is lost and not discerned. Let the suits of the
masquers be graceful, and such as become the person, when the vizors
are off; not after examples of known attires; Turke, soldiers,
mariners, and the like. Let anti-masques not be long; they have been
commonly of fools, satyrs, baboons, wild-men, antics, beasts, sprites,
witches, Ethiops, pigmies, turquets, nymphs, rustics, Cupids,
statuas moving, and the like. As for angels, it is not comical enough,
to put them in anti-masques; and anything that is hideous, as
devils, giants, is on the other side as unfit. But chiefly, let the
music of them be recreative, and with some strange changes. Some sweet
odors suddenly coming forth, without any drops falling, are, in such a
company as there is steam and heat, things of great pleasure and
refreshment. Double masques, one of men, another of ladies, addeth
state and variety. But all is nothing except the room be kept clear
and neat.
For justs, and tourneys, and barriers; the glories of them are
chiefly in the chariots, wherein the challengers make their entry;
especially if they be drawn with strange beasts: as lions, bears,
camels, and the like; or in the devices of their entrance; or in the
bravery of their liveries; or in the goodly furniture of their
horses and armor. But enough of these toys.
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contact: morgan at morgan@westegg.com page last modified: thu jan 12 01:37:48 2006 |
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