Hymenaei, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers at a Marriage (Truth versus Opinion) · chunk 2 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 · 502 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
THe Pair, which do each other side, Though (yet) some space doth them divide, This happy Night must both make one Blessed Sacrifice, to VNION. Nor is this Altar but a Sign Of one more soft, and more divine The a Genial Bed, where HYMEN keeps The solemn Orgies, void of sleeps: And wildest CUPID, waking, hovers With adoration twixt the Lovers. The Tead of white, and blooming Thorn, In token of increase is borne: As b also, with the ominous Light, To fright all Malice from the Night. Like are the c Fire, and Water set; That, even as Moisture, mixed with Heat, Helps every Natural Birth, to life; So, for their Race, join Man, and Wife. The d blushing Veil shows shamefastness Th'ingenuous Virgin should profess At meeting with the Man: Her Hair That e flows so liberal, and so fair, Is shed with grey, to intimate She entereth to a matron's state. For which those f Utensils are borne. And, that she should not Labour scorn, herself a g Snowy Fleece doth wear, And these her h Rock and Spindle bear, To show, that Nothing, which is good, Gives check unto the highest blood. The i Zone of wool about her waste, Which, in contrary Circles cast, Doth meet in one k strong knot, that binds, Tells you, so should all Married Minds. And lastly, these five Waxen Lights Imply Perfection in the Rites; For a Five the special Number is, Whence hallowed VNION claims her bliss. As being all the Sum, that grows From the united strengths, of those Which b Male, and Female Numbers we Do style, and are First Two, and Three. Which, joined thus, you cannot sever In equal parts, but One will ever Remain as common; so we see The binding-force of Unity: For which alone, the peaceful Gods In Number, always, love the odds; And even parts as much despise, Since out of them all Discords rise. ANd see, where JUNO, whose great Name Is VNIO, in the Anagram, Displays her glistering State, and Chair, As she enlightened all the Air! Hark how the charming Tunes do beat In sacred Concord's bout her seat! And lo! to grace what these intend, Eight of her Noblest Powers descend, Which are a enstiled her Faculties, That govern nuptial Mysteries; And wear those Masques before their faces, Lest, dazzling Mortals with their graces As they approach them, all Mankind Should be, like CUPID, strooken blind. These ORDER waits for, on the ground, To keep, that you should not confound Their measured steps, which only move About th' harmonious sphere of LOVE. THese, these are they, Whom Humour and Affection must obey; Who come to deck the genial Bower, And bring, with them, the grateful Hour That crowns such Meetings, and excites The married Pair to fresh Delights: As Courtings, Kissings, Coyings, Oaths, & Vows, Soft Whisperings, Embracements, all the joys, And melting Toys, That chaster LOVE allows. CHO. Hast, haste, for HESPERUS his head down bows.
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)
THe Paire, which doe each other side, Though (yet) some space doth them divide, This happy Night must both make one Blest Sacrifice, to VNION. Nor is this Altar hut a Signe Of one more soft, and more divine The Geniall Bed, where HYMEN keepes The solemne Orgies, voyd of sleepes: And wildest CVPID, waking, hovers With adoration 'twixt the Lovers. The Tead of white, and blooming Thorne, In token of increase is borne: As also, with the omenous Light, To fright all Malice from the Night. Like are the Fire, and Water set; That, ev'n as Moysture, mixt with Heate, Helpes every Naturall Birth, to life; So, for their Race, ioyne Man, and Wife. The blushing Veyle shewes shamefastnesse Th'ingenuous Virgin should professe At meeting with the Man: Her Haire That flowes so liberall, and so faire, Is shed with grey, to intimate She entreth to a Matrons state. For which those Vtensills are borne. And, that shee should not Labour scorne, Her selfe a Snowie Fleece doth weare, And these her Rocke and Spindle beare, To shew, that Nothing, which is good, Gives checke vnto the highest blood. The Zone of wooll about her waste, Which, in contrary Circles cast, Doth meete in one strong knot, that bindes, Tells you, so should all Married Mindes. And lastly, these five Waxen Lights Imply Perfection in the Rites; For Five the speciall Number is, Whence halow'd VNION claymes her blisse. As being all the Summe, that growes From the vnited strengths, of those Which Male, and Female Numbers wee Do stile, and are First Two, and Three. Which, ioyned thus, you cannot sever In aequall partes, but One will ever Remaine as common; so we see The binding-force of Vnitie: For which alone, the peace-full Gods In Number, alwayes, love the oddes; And even partes as much despise, Since out of them all Discords rise. ANd see, where IVNO, whose great Name Is VNIO, in the Anagram, Displayes her glistering State, and Chaire, As she enlightned all the Ayre! Harke how the charming Tunes doe beate In sacred Concords bout her seate! And loe! to grace what these intend, Eight of her Noblest Powers descend, Which are enstil'd her Faculties, That governe nuptiall Mysteries; And weare those Masques before their faces, Lest, dazling Mortalls with their graces As they approach them, all Mankind Should be, like CVPID, stroken blinde. These ORDER waytes for, on the ground, To keepe, that you should not confound Their measur'd steppes, which onely move About th' harmonious sphaere of LOVE. THese, these are they, Whom Humor and Affection must obey; Who come to decke the geniall Bower, And bring, with them, the gratefull Hower That crownes such Meetings, and excites The married Paire to fresh Delights: As Courtings, Kissings, Coyings, Oths, & Vowes, Soft Whisperings, Embracements, all the Ioyes, And melting Toyes, That chaster LOVE allowes. CHO. Hast, hast, for HESPERVS his head down bowes.