A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor.

  • Benjamin Ward Richardson
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A day with Cromwell: a drama of history, in five acts, by Auctor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    Company] Friends all, I pray you be seated. Musician] We are ready, Sir. [.Musicians sing the [ To First MadrigalJ. Song on May Morning. Now the bright morning star, day’s harbinger, Comes dancing from the east, and leads with her The flowery May, who from her green lap, throws The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. Hail bounteous May, that dost inspire Mirth, and youth, and warm desire; Woods and groves are of thy dressing, Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing, Thus we salute thee with our early song, And welcome thee, and wish thee long. [Applause, his Highness leading it.] Cromwell.—Who has set this to music ? First Musician.—One John Hatton, my Lord, a modest young artist, and painstaking. He hath writ all the music for this occasion. Cromwell.—Nay, truly sir, if our poor judgment be worth anything, he hath genius, and doth approach the master whose words he hath set to melody. We wish him all the honour he doth so richly deserve. Now then, for an instrumental piece. First Musician.—Would your Highness like a pa vine? Cromicell.—Aye, indeed, ’tis grave, sober, full of art and profundity. I like a pavine. [The musicians tune their instruments], [To Milton]. I enjoy the tuning of instruments more than most men; it whets the appetite and excites wonder: or, as thou would’st put it, ’tis the chaos from which order is to be brought forth. Milton.—Truly so. First Musician.—We are attuned, my Lord. Cromwell. And our best sense is keen. If there be here a master, who can make Fine music on a single instrument, The dulcimer, the viol, the bassoon, Trumpet or hautboy, or whate’er you please, Let him a prelude play : so that into The rivulet of melody he starts You may pour in your strains, until you make A very torrent of sweet harmonies.