ESS A YS CIVIL AND MORAL. 



other that arc to conic down from the scene, have some motions upon the 

 scene itself before their coming clown ; for it draws the eye strangely, 

 and makes it with great pleasure to desire to see that it cannot per 

 fectly discern. Let the songs be loud and cheerful, and not chirpings 

 or pulings. Let the music likewise be sharp and loud, ar.il well placed 

 The colours that show best by candle-light, are white, carnation, and 

 a kind of sea-water green ; and ouches, or spangs, as they are of no 

 great cost, so arc they of most glory. As for rich embroidery, it is 

 lost, and not discerned. Let the suits of the maskers be graceful, and 

 such as become the person when the vizards are off: not after examples 

 of known attires ; Turks, soldiers, mariners, and the like. Let anti- 

 masks not be long ; they have been commonly of fools, satyrs, baboons, 

 wild men, antics, beasts, spirits, witches, Ethiopes, pigmies, turquets, 

 nymphs, rustics, Cupids, statues moving, and the like. As for angels, 

 it is not comical enough to put them in anti-masks ; and anything that 

 is hideous, as devils, giants, is on the other side as unlit : but chiefly, 

 let the music of them be recreative, and with some strange changes. 

 Some sweet odours suddenly coming forth without any drops falling, 

 arc 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. I hit 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 armour. But 

 enough of these toys. 



XXXVIII. OF NATURE IN MEN. 



Nature is often hidden, sometimes overcome, seldom extinguished 



Force maketh nature more violent in the return; doctrine and di^- 



coursc maketh nature less importune : but custom only doth alter and 



subdue nature. He that sceketh victory over his nature, let him not 



t himself too great, nor too small tasks ; for the first will make him 



dejected by often failings ; and the second will make him a small pro- 



cecder though by often prcvailings. And at the first, let him practice 



.dps, as swimmers do with bladders or rushes : but after a time 



let him practise with disadvantages, as dancers do with thick shoes 



{or il Is great perfection, if the practice be harder than the use 



nature is mighty, and therefore the victory hard, the degrees 



1 be, first to stay and arrest nature in time ; like to him that 



&amp;gt;uld say over the four and twenty letters when he was an-rv then 



to go less in quantity ; as if one should, in forbearing wine, come front 



drinking hea ths to a draught at a meal ; and lastly, to discontinue 



Optimus ill anirni vindex, laidentia pectus 

 Vincula qui rupit, cledoluitque semel. 



