The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-07
THE MASQUE REVIVED.

Mythology and allegory are no Longer
the fashion in drama. Men who would
not risk classical quotation are not
likely to search Olympus and fairyland
in order to people the stage with gods
and legendary heroes. They left that tc
Ben Jonson, Decker, Beaumont, Dave
nant, Fletcher, Middleton and Chapman
Poets and playwrights in the golden age
knew how to clothe these distractions
with all the splendors of a picturesque
and sentimental fancy. That no harsh
limit might be set, they invented the
masque, and mingled in one sparkling
composition gods and heroes, music and
dance, decoration and defamation.
Elizabeth revealed in these pageants, in
which all the magnificence of the Eng
fish Renaissance was displayed. James
I and Charles Ii found in them an un-
failing source of pleasure. Even the
church encouraged them, while lawyers
in the Temple handed them down from
generation to generation, despite Puri-
tan protest.
These Mosques We're true feasts for the
eye--fairy tales set in a glitter of dia-
monds and dresses, professions that IT,
tan might have painted, pantomimes
and improbable farces that caught the
follies of the day as Aristophanes might
have presented them to the Greeks. AS
Bacon observes, they were designed for
princes and by princes played. Only
when the highest poetical and musical
talent was expended upon them-as in
3 "Comus" they any permanent lite
rary value.
flor ~
masque is to be revived. At the end of
the present month there will be set be-
fore the Lord Mayor, the sheriffs, alder
men and leading citizens of London in
their Gown and. ancient" Guildhall the
story Of, "Beauty's Awakening
masque of winter and of spring. 1t is
the production of the Art Workers
Guild, and gives evidence of much skill
and labor on the part of many eminent
artists and craftsmen The action of
the masque is short and simple, and, on
the suggestion of Walter Crane, has
been woven into the old world story of
the Sleeping Beauty. 1t has, of course,
an ethical application, the sleep of
Fayremonde symbolizing indifference to
art and beauty, while her awakening
represents the revival of the arts which
has distinguished our time. There is
prologue, followed by six scenes, and an
epilogue, with professions and dances
and songs, after the manner of the an
cient Mosques The prologue, written
by Harrison Townsend, is spoken by
Time, who invites the candid and good
natured audience to stand
Within the confines of the Time-lesa
land
The land Of Faery, where all things
seem,
Where Man and Time have melted into
dream.
Fayremonde. the spirit of all things
beautiful, is then discovered in a pro-
found sleep within tapestried chamber
of her palace. Around her are grouped
attendants--the seven eXtingulshed
lamps-Truth, Sacrifice, Power, Beauty,
Life, Memory, Obedience over their
slumbers watches Malebodea the witch.
The song of the Winds and the Leaves is
sung, and a dance follows-the dance Of
forest leaves-sixteen young girls in
robes of crimson and brown and orange
and green. These leaves are blown
about by the four winds. and the music
of the dance is performed upon ancient
instruments, the players standing on the
stage quantity attired. The second
scene represents a forest, into which the
four seasons have brought tree in BIOS
som. Under this spreading thorn rests
the weary Knight Trueheart, who has
lost himself in the enchanted forest and
has broken his sword in hewing a path.
While he sleeps, Hope and Fortitude
come to him in vision Hope whispers
words of courage
Fairness lies hid beneath cold customs
Dan
That hides the brotherhood of man with
man.
Fortitude, in strange armor digit"
places by his side the Sword of Courage |
and Conviction Sure, while Hope crests
his helmet with a blossoming bough |
Thus equipped Trueheart encounters
and Stays Aschemon, "a huge and horrid |
dragon" In the third scene Malebodea |
rallies her evil brood to 'conspire anew |
against the powers of good" Cowed |
and Respondent at the death of Asche-
mon, their changing mood is interrupted |
by music, telling first Of reluctance, then |
of resolution. One by one they are sum
moned by the voice of Human Destinies
--Philistinus, "soapy, punctilious old
sneak; Bogus. "his cant and his com
panies all gone crack; Scampius, with
the soul of ghoul and the teeth Of a
rat; Cupiditas, who'd 'sel Westmins-
ter Abbey and God to fead"; Ignoramus,
as he lounges in the City" or leads the
Academy Hanging Committee; Bum
with his twists and his
swifts and his betterment schemes;
who is invited to stop
humping your damned philanthropical
drum and Jerry, "cadging along with
the rest of the crew. The dance of the
demons grows wilder and madden until
the clarion of the true knight rings out,
and they vanish. Scene four u.s. perhaps,
the most picturesque. 1t is a vision of
Fair Cities, which Clio, the Muse of His
tory, summons to the slumbering Spirit
If Beauty. Eight cities appear, each in
historic garb and accompanied by some
famous ruler or citizen whose fame is
associated with her glory Thebes, "se-
'ene in wisdom" comes first attended
ov Rameses III. Athens follows, "a
1ueen meath cloudless skies, having for
Pheidias and two youths
rom the "Lyss of Plato. After them,
n a glowing procession, march Rome,
Mistress of the World" with Caesar;
Daughter of Imperial
-,o,,a With Constantine and ST Hele-