Hymenaei, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers at a Marriage (Truth versus Opinion) · chunk 1 of 8
Jonson, Ben · published 1606 · first performed or written 1606 [Jan 5] (Annals) masque · before the Court unassigned nearest T12 Olympian gods: Jupiter, Juno, Venus and · 445 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
BId all profane away; None here may stay To view our Mysteries, But, who themselves have been, Or will, in Time, be seen The self-same Sacrifice. For VNION, Mistress of these Rites, Will be observed with Eyes, As simple as her Nights. Fly then, all profane, away, Fly far off, as hath the Day; Night her curtain doth display, And this is Hymen's Holiday. WHat more than usual Light (Throughout the Place extended) Makes JUNO'S Fane so bright! Is there some greater Deity descended? arraign, on earth, those Powers So rich, as with their beams Grace VNION more than ours; And bound her Influence, in their happier streams? 'tis so: This same is he, The King, and Priest of Peace! And that his Empress, she, That sits so crowned with her own increase! O you, whose better Blisses, Have proved the strict embrace Of VNION, with chaste kisses, And seen it flow so in your happy Race; That know, how well it binds The fighting Seeds of Things, Wins Natures, Sexes, Minds, And every discord in true Music brings: Sit now propitious Aids, To Rites, so duly prized; And view two Noble Maids, Of different Sex, to VNION sacrificed. In honour of that blessed Estate, Which all Good Minds should celebrate. SAve, save the Virgins; Keep your hallowed Lights Untouched: And with their flame defend our Rites. The four untempered Humours are broke out: And, with their wild Affections, go about To ravish all Religion. If there be A Power, like REASON, left in that huge Body, Or little World of Man, from whence these came, Look forth, and with thy bright and a numerous flame Instruct their Darkness, make them know, and see, In wronging these, they have rebelled 'gainst thee. Forbear your rude attempt; what Ignorance Could yield you so profane, as to advance One thought in Act, against these Mysteries? Are union's a Orgies of so slender price? She that makes Souls, with Bodies, mix in Love, Contracts the World in one, and therein JOVE; Is b Spring, and End of all Things yet, most strange! herself nor suffers Spring, nor End, nor Change. No wonder, they were you, that were so bold; For none but Humours and Affections would Have dared so rash a venture. You will say It was your Zeal, that gave your powers the sway; And urge the masked, and disguised pretence Of saving Blood, and succouring Innocence? So want of Knowledge, still, begetteth jars, When humorous Earthlings will control the Stars. Inform yourselves, with safer Reverence, To these mysterious Rites, whose mystic sense REASON (which all things but itself) confounds) Shall clear unto you, from th'authentic grounds.
seed 43: unassigned · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
BId all profane away; None here may stay To view our Mysteries, But, who themselues have beene, Or will, in Time, be seene The selfe-same Sacrifice. For VNION, Mistris of these Rites, Will be observ'd with Eyes, As simple as her Nights. Flie then, all profane, away, Flie farre off, as hath the Day; Night her Cortine doth display, And this is HYMENS Holiday. VVHat more than vsuall Light (Throughout the Place extended) Makes IVNO'S Fane so bright! Is there some greater Deitie descended? Orraigne, on earth, those Powers So rich, as with their beames Grace VNION more than our's; And bound her Influence, in their happier streames? Tis so: This same is he, The King, and Priest of Peace! And that his Empresse, she, That sits so crowned with her owne increase! O you, whose better Blisses, Have proov'd the strict embrace Of VNION, with chaste kisses, And seene it flowe so in your happy Race; That know, how well it bindes The fighting Seedes of Things, Winnes Natures, Sexes, Mindes, And ev'ry discord in true Musique brings: Sit now propitious Aydes, To Rites, so duely priz'd; And view two Noble Maydes, Of different Sexe, to VNION sacrifiz'd. In honour of that blest Estate, Which all Good Mindes should celebrate. SAve, save the Virgins; Keepe your halow'd Lights Vntouch'd: And with their flame defend our Rites. The foure vntempred Humors are broke out: And, with their wild Affections, goe about To ravish all Religion. If there be A Power, like REASON, left in that huge Bodie, Or little World of Man, from whence these came, Looke forth, and with thy bright and numerous flame Instruct their Darkenesse, make them know, and see, In wronging these, they have rebell'd gainst thee. FOrbeare your rude attempt; what Ignorance Could yeelde you so profane, as to advance One thought in Act, against these Mysteries? Are VNION'S Orgies of so slender price? She that makes Soules, with Bodies, mixe in Love, Contracts the World in one, and therein IOVE; Is Spring, and End of all Things yet, most strange! Her selfe nor suffers Spring, nor End, nor Change. No wonder, they were you, that were so bold; For none but Humors and Affections would Have dar'd so rash a venture. You will say It was your Zeale, that gave your powers the sway; And vrge the masqued, and disguisd pretence Of saving Bloud, and succ'ring Innocence? So want of Knowledge, still, begetteth iarres, When humorous Earthlings will controle the Starres. Informe your selves, with safer Reverence, To these mysterious Rites, whose mysticke sense REASON (which all things but it selfe) confounds) Shall cleare vnto you, from th'authentique grounds.