Hymenaei, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers at a Marriage (Truth versus Opinion) · chunk 4 of 8
Jonson, Ben · published 1606 · first performed or written 1606 [Jan 5] (Annals) masque · before the Court unassigned nearest T21 Cupid, Venus and the nymphs · 492 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T21: cupid, venus, love, ceres, diana, fair, nymphs, goddess, bow, damon.
HEre stay, and let your Sports be crowned: The perfectest Figure is the Round. Nor fell you in it by adventure, When REASON was your Guide, and Centre. This, this that beauteous a Ceston is of Lovers many-coloured Bliss. Come HYMEN, make an inner Ring, And let the Sacrificers sing; Cheer up the faint, and trembling Bride, That quakes to touch her Bridegroom's side: Tell her, what JUNO is to JOVE, The same shall she be to her Love; His Wife: which we do rather measure A Name of Dignity, than Pleasure. Up Youths, hold up your Lights in air, And shake abroad c their flaming hair. Now move united, and, in Gate, As you (in pairs) do front the State, With grateful Honours, thank his Grace That hath so glorified the Place: And as, in Circle, you depart Linked hand in hand; So, heart in heart, May all those Bodies still remain Whom he, (with so much sacred pain) No less hath bound within his Realms Than they are with the ocean's streams. Long may his VNION find increase As he, to ours, hath deigned his peace. GLad Time is at his point arrived, For which Loves hopes were so long-lived. Lead HYMEN, lead away; And let no Object stay, Nor Banquets, (but sweet kisses) The Turtles from their Blisses. 'tis CUPID calls to arm; And this his last Alarm. Shrink not, soft VIRGIN, you will love, anon, what you so fear to prove. This is no killing War, To which you pressed are; But fair and gentle strife Which Lovers call their Life. 'tis CUPID cries to Arm; And this his last Alarm. Help Youths, and Virgins, help to sing The Prize, which HYMEN here doth bring, And did so lately a rap From forth the Mother's lap, To place her by that side Where she must long abide. On HYMEN, HYMEN call, This Night is HYMEN's all. See, HESPERUS is yet in view! What Star can so deserve of you? Whose light doth still adorn Your Bride, that ere the Morn, Shall far more perfect be, And rise as bright as He; When b (like to him) her Name Is changed, but not her Flame. Hast, tender Lady, and adventure; The covetous House would have you enter, That it might wealthy be, And you, her c Mistress see: Hast your own good to meet; Aud lift your golden feete Above the Threshold, high, With prosperous Augury. Now, Youths, let go your pretty arms; The Place within chants other charms. Whole showers of Roses flow; And Violets seem to grow, Strewed in the Chamber there, As Venus' Mead it were. On HYMEN, HYMEN call, This Night is HYMEN's all. Good Matrons, that so well are known To aged Husbands of your own, Place you our Bride tonight; And b snatch away the Light: That c she not hide it dead Beneath her Spouse's Bed; Nor d he reserve the same
seed 43: T21 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
HEre stay, and let your Sports be crown'd: The perfect'st Figure is the Round. Nor fell you in it by adventer, When REASON was your Guide, and Center. This, this that beauteous Ceston is of Lovers many-coulor'd Blisse. Come HYMEN, make an inner Ring, And let the Sacrificers sing; Cheare vp the faint, and trembling Bride, That quakes to touch hir Bridegroom's side: Tell her, what IVNO is to IOVE, The same shall she be to her Love; His Wife: which we doe rather measure A Name of Dignity, then Pleasure. Vp Youths, hold vp your Lights in ayre, And shake abroad their flaming haire. Now move vnited, and, in Gate, As you (in paires) doe front the State, With gratefull Honors, thanke his Grace That hath so glorified the Place: And as, in Circle, you depart Link'd hand in hand; So, heart in heart, May all those Bodies still remaine Whom he, (with so much sacred paine) No lesse hath bound within his Realmes Then they are with the OCEANS streames. Long may his VNION find increase As hee, to ours, hath deign'd his peace. GLad Time is at his point arriv'd, For which Loves hopes were so long-liv'd. Lead HYMEN, lead away; And let no Obiect stay, Nor Banquets, (but sweete kisses) The Turtles from their Blisses. Tis CVPID calls to arme; And this his last Alarme. Shrinke not, soft VIRGIN, you will love, Anone, what you so feare to prove. This is no killing Warre, To which you pressed are; But faire and gentle strife Which Lovers call their Life. Tis CVPID cries to Arme; And this his last Alarme. Helpe Youths, and Virgins, helpe to sing The Prize, which HYMEN here doth bring, And did so lately rap From forth the Mothers lap, To place her by that side Where she must long abide. On HYMEN, HYMEN call, This Night is HYMEN's all. See, HESPERVS is yet in view! What Starre can so deserve of you? Whose light doth still adorne Your Bride, that ere the Morne, Shall farre more perfect bee, And rise as bright as Hee; When (like to him) her Name Is chang'd, but not her Flame. Hast, tender Lady, and adventer; The coveous House would have you enter, That it might wealthy bee, And you, her Mistresse see: Hast your owne good to meete; Aud lift your golden feete Above the Threshold, high, With prosperous Augury. Now, Youths, let goe your pretty armes; The Place within chant's other charmes. Whole showers of Roses flow; And Violets seeme to grow, Strew'd in the Chamber there, As VENVS Meade it were. On HYMEN, HYMEN call, This Night is HYMEN's all. Good Matrons, that so well are knowne To aged Husbands of your owne, Place you our Bride to night; And snatch away the Light: That she not hide it dead Beneath her Spouse's Bed; Nor he reserve the same