OBERON, ETC. The first face of the scene appeared all obscure, and nothing perceived but a dark rock, with trees beyond it, and all wildness that could be presented: till, at one corner of the cliff, above the horizon, the moon began to shew, and rising, a Satyr was seen by her light to put forth his head and call. I Satyr. HROMIS! Mnasil! None appear? you not who riseth here? You saw Silenus, late, I fear. I'll prove, if this can reach your ear. He wound his cornet, and thought himself answered; but was deceived by the echo. O, you wake then! come away, They are the names of two young Satyrs, I find in Virgil Eclog. 6, that took Silenus sleeping; who is feigned to be the pædagogue of Bacchus: as the Satyrs are his collusores, or playfellows. So doth Diodor. Siculus, Synesius, Julian, in Casarib. report them. A proverbial speech, when they will tax one the other of drinking or sleepiness; alluding to that former place in Virgil: Chromis et Mnasilus in antro Silenum, pueri, somno videre jacentem, The humorous moon too will not stay :- Echo, did me entertain. Prove again [Wound his cornet the second time, and found it.] Idle nymph, I pray thee be Here he wound the third time, and was answered by another Satyr, who likewise shewed himself. Ay, this sound I better know: List! I would I could hear moe. At this they came running forth severally, to the number of ten, from divers parts of the rock, leaping and making antick actions and gestures; some of them speaking, some admiring: and amongst them a SILENE, who is ever the prefect of the Satyrs, and so presented in all their chori and meetings. 2 Sat. Thank us, and you shall do so. 3 Sat. Ay, our number soon will grow. d Silenus is every where made a lover of wine, as in Cyclops Eurip. and known by the notable ensign, his tankard: out of the same place of Virgil: Et gravis attrita pendebat cantharus ansa. As also out of that famous piece of sculpture, in a little gem or piece of jasper, observed by Mons. Casaubon, in his tract de Satyrica Poësi, from Rascasius Bagarrius: wherein is described the whole manner of the scene, and chori of Bacchus, with Silenus, and the Satyrs. An elegant and curious antiquity, both for the subtility and labour: where, in so small a compass, (to use his words) there is Rerum, personarum, actionum plane stupenda varietas. • Respecting that known fable of Echo's following Narcissus; and his self love. 2 Sat. See Silenus !f 3 Sat. CERCOPs too! 4 Sat. Yes. What is there now to do? 5 Sat. Are there any nymphs to woo? 4 Sat. If there be, let me have two." Silen. Chaster language! These are nights, Of the Fairy Prince, and knights: As you spake him long agon ? Silen. Satyrs, he doth fill with grace Every season, every place; In the pomps of Dionysius, or Bacchus, to every company of Satyrs, there was still given a Silene for their overseer or governor. And in that which is described by Athenæus in his fifth book. Bini Sileni non semel commemorantur, qui totidem plurium Satyrorum gregibus præsint. Erant enim eorum epistatæ, præsules, et coryphæi, propter grandem ætatem. He was also purpureo pallio vestitus cum albis soleis, et petasatus, aureum caduceum parvum ferens. Vid. Athena. Dipnos. lib. vi. de pompâ Ptolemaicâ. The nature of the Satyrs the wise Horace expressed well, in the word, when he called them Risores et Dicaces, as the Greek poets, Nonnus, &c., style them piλOKEρTOμovs. Nec solum dicaces, sed et proni in venerem, et saltatores assidui et credebantur, et finge bantur. Unde Satyrica saltatio, quæ σikivviç dicebatar, et à qua Satyri ipsi σikivvioraι. Vel à Sicino, inventore, vel àñò rηs Kɩvýσews, id est, a motu saltationis satyrorum, qui est concitatissimus. h But in the Silenes was nothing of this petulance and lightness, but, on the contrary, all gravity and profound knowledge of most secret mysteries. Insomuch as the most learned of poets, Virgil, when he would write a poem of the beginnings, and hidden nature of things, with other great antiquities, attributed the parts of disputing them, to Silenus, rather than any other. Which whosoever thinks to be easily, or by chance done by the most prudent writer, will easily betray his own ignorance, or folly. To this, see the testimonies of Plato, Synesius, Herodotus, Strabo, Philostratus, Tertullian, &c. |