(EARLY 18th CENTURY,)
A slow stately dance.
Arranged for six people. Three couples.
Music played twice through.
8 bars.
The 1st lady and gentleman, Nos. I and 2, move forward, holding
hands.
The second couple, Nos. 3 and 4, join in behind them, and the
third couple bring up the rear, forming this figure.
As they take this position, they do
this step.
1 bar. 1. Step forward with right foot.
2. Bring left up behind and Right foot on pointed toe.
3. Right foot on heel.
4. Cut the right foot.
1 bar. This is followed by a gavotte step for one bar.
On, behind, on, cut.
(Count for pupils for first bar-one, two, and three, four.)
4 bars. Set to partners twice obliquely. Gavotte step
with point. All begin with the right and point left foot, forward
and back, forward again. Each gentleman turns his lady and they
fall into places in a circle. (See Photograph.)
During the turn, the 2nd lady (No. 3) crosses over to the
opposite side.
The ladies advance to the centre of
the circle, where all three meet.
Two bars to the centre and two bars back to places, they hold
their skirts out, and do this step.
2 bars. 1. Left behind.
2. Half round.
3. Pirouette low, whole turn.
4. Feet together and rise on the toes.
2 bars. Repeat, going back to places.
4 bars. The ladies now
stand still and the gentlemen move round the circle on the inside
in a triangle, 1st gentleman (No. 2) going to 2nd gentleman's
place (No. 4), Second to third, third to first. They move on
with the same step as in the first figure: the gentlemen look
at the ladies as they pass them, and the ladies slightly acknowledge
the gentlemen.
4 bars. Ladies repeat figure to centre.
4 bars. Gentlemen repeat as before, moving on one place.
4 bars. Ladies repeat to centre.
4 bars. Gentlemen repeat, moving back into original place
in the circle.
8 bars. 1st
and 2nd lady, Nos. 1 and 3, instantly, stretch out hands, join,
and make 
an arch.
3rd and 4th gentlemen, Nos. 4 and 6, do likewise, leaving gentleman
No. 2 outside and lady No. 5 outside.
Lady No. 5 and gentleman No. 2 advance towards each other, dancing
the steps in first figure (on, behind, toe, heel, cut), etc.
Gentleman passes through one arch, the lady through the other;
in the middle they bow and curtsey to each other rather
obliquely.
They then retire back through the arches again, and bow and curtsey
to each other through them.
4 bars.
The 1st gentleman then takes 1st lady (Nos. 1 and 2), and doing
the first step, retire backwards to their original place.
2nd lady (No. 3) crosses over quickly to he gentleman (No. 4),
who advances to meet her, and they are then in their original
places. 3rd lady and gentleman, Nos. 5 and 6, lead round to their
places; all are now as they started ; they end thus, the final
chord being prolonged for a bow and curtsey when they have regained
their places.
If it is desired to repeat this dance,
they should move thus during the last figure, 4 bars --
Nos. 1 and 2, lady and gentleman, fall back into the 3rd couple's
original place.
Nos. 3 and 4 fall back to the 1st couple's place in the middle
of stage, facing audience. They are now the first couple.
Nos. 5 and 6 fall into the 2nd couple's place
To repeat a third time, Nos. 5 and 6 should fall back into the 1st couple's place; at the end of the third repeat the 1st couple will be again in their original place.
For performance the dance may be repeated as often as desired.
The following words are found with the directions for the dance. They may be sung while it is being performed.
To enjoy the bliss of treasures,
Mortals spend their lives in toils;
Men in power feel its pleasures,
Chastest maidens it beguiles;
Riches make the ugly pretty,
And the wrinkled hag look young;
Justice blinds; makes fools seem witty,
Riches conquer, right or wrong.
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