i stood a stone,
mocked of all, and called of one,
with which grief and wrath  i heard,
cupid's statue with a beard,
or else one that played his ape,
in a Hercules his shape.

shine forth, thou star of poets, and with rage,
or influence chide and cheer the drooping stage,
which since thy flight from hence, hath mourned like night,
and despairs day,but for thy volume's light.

o shows! shows! mighty shows!
the eloquent of masques! what need of prose,
or verse, or sense to express immortal you?
you are the spectacles of thine majestic state.