Read Online The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin Classics) by Margaret Cavendish - Free Book Online Page A

there was such a crowd, and such a noise, the officers beating the people back, the women squeaking, and the men cursing, the officers threatening, and the enterers praying; which confusion made her afraid.
    Lord, Uncle, said she, what a horrid noise is here? Pray let us go back, and let us not put ourselves unto this unnecessary trouble.
    O Child, said he, camps and courts are never silent; besides, where great persons are, there should be a thundering noise to strike their inferiors with a kind of terror and amazement; for poets say, fear and wonder makes gods.
    Certainly, said she, there must be great felicity in the sight of this masque, or else they would never take so much pains, and endure so great affronts to obtain it: but, pray Uncle, said she, stay while they are all passed in.
    Why then, said he, we must stay until the masque is done, for there will be striving to get in until such time as those within are coming out.
    But when they came near the door, her uncle spoke to the officer thereof; pray Sir, said he, let this young Lady in to see the masque.
    There is no room, said he, there are more young ladies already than the Viceroy and all his courtiers can tell what to do with.
    This is a dogged fellow, said her uncle; whereupon he told her, she must put up her scarf, and speak [her]self; for everyone domineers in their office, though it doth not last two hours; and are proud of their authority, though it be but to crack a louse; wherefore you must speak.
    Pray Sir, said she to the door-keeper, if it be no injury to your authority, you will be so civil as to let us pass by.
    Now by my troth, said he, thou hast such a pleasing face, none can deny thee: but now I look upon you better, you shall not go in.
    Why Sir? said she.
    Why, said he, you will make the painter and the poet lose their design, for one expects to enter in at the ears of the assembly, the other at their eyes, and your beauty will blind the one, and stop the other; besides, said he, all the ladies will curse me.
    Heaven forbid, said she, I should be the cause of curses; and to prevent that, I will return back again.
    Nay Lady, said he, I have not the power to let you go back, wherefore pray pass.
    Sir, said she, I must have this gentleman along with me.
    Even who you please, said he, I can deny you nothing, angels must be obeyed.
    When they came into the masquing room, the house was full;now, said her uncle, I leave you to shift for yourself: then he went and crowded himself into a comer at the lower end.
    When the company was called to sit down, that the masque might be represented, everyone was placed by their friends, or else they placed themselves. But she, being unaccustomed to those meetings, knew not how to dispose of herself, observing there was much jostling and thrusting one another to get to places[.] When she considered she had not strength to scamble 5 amongst them, she stood still. When they were all set, it was as if a curtain was drawn from before her, and she appeared like a glorious light; whereat all were struck with such amaze, that they forgot a great while the civility in offering her a place. At last, all the men, which at such times sit opposite to the women to view them the better, rose up, striving every one to serve her: but the Viceroy bid them all sit down again, and called for a chair for her. But few looked on the masque for looking on her, especially the Viceroy and the Duke, whose eyes were riveted to her face.
    When the masquers were come down to dance, who were all women, the chief of them being the daughter of the Viceroy, who was a widower, and she was his only child, they took out the men such as their fancy pleased, and then they sat down; and then one of the chief of the men chose out a lady, and so began to dance in single couples[.] The Duke being the chief that did dance, chose out this beauty, not knowing who she was, nor she him: but when she danced, it was so becoming; for she having naturally a