Hymenaei, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers at a Marriage (Truth versus Opinion) · chunk 7 of 8
Jonson, Ben · published 1606 · first performed or written 1606 [Jan 5] (Annals) masque · before the Court unassigned nearest T28 Marriage-making: weddings, brides and ma · 520 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of the nearest topic T28: married, marriage, wedding, day, bride, father, wife, luce, love, husband.
In jests, and Laughter, they must laugh, and jest; When they wake, wake; and when they rest, must rest. And to their Wives Men give such narrow scopes, As if they meant to make them walk on Ropes: No Tumblers bide more peril of their Necks In all their Tricks; Then Wives in husband's Checks. Where Virgins, in their sweet, and peaceful State Have all things perfect; spin their own free Fate; Depend on no proud Second; are their own Centre, and Circle; Now, and always One. To whose Example, we do still hear named One God, one Nature, and but one World framed, One Sun, one Moon, one Element of Fire, So, of the Rest; One King, that doth inspire Soul, to all Bodies, in this royal Sphere: And where is Marriage more declared, then there? Is there a Band more strict, then that doth tie The Soul, and Body in such unity? Subjects to Sovereigns? doth one Mind display In th'one's Obedience, and the others Sway? Believe it, Marriage suffers no compare, When both Estates are valued, as they are. The Virgin were a strange, and stubborn Thing, Would longer stay a Virgin, than to bring herself fit use, and profit in a Make. How she doth err! and the whole Heaven mistake! Look how a Flower, that close in Closes grows, Hid from rude Cattle, bruised with no Ploughs, Which th' Air doth stroke, Sun strengthen, Showers It many Youths, & many Maids desire; (shoot higher, The same, when cropped by cruel hand is withered, No Youths at all, No Maidens have desired: So a Virgin, while untouched she doth remain, Is dear to hers; but when with bodies stain Her chaster Flower is lost, she leaves to appear Or sweet to Young Men, or to maidens dear. That Conquest then may crown me in this War, Virgins, O Virgins fly from HYMEN far. Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet HYMEN yield, For as a lone Vine, in a naked Field, Never extols her branches, never bears Ripe Grapes, but with a headlong heaviness wears Her tender body, and her highest sprout Is quickly leveled with her fading root; By whom no Husbandmen, no Youths will dwell; But if, by fortune, she be married well To th' Elm, her Husband, many Husbandmen, And many Youths inhabit by her, then: So whilst a Virgin doth, untouched, abide All unmanured, she grows old, with her pride; But when to equal Wedlock, in fit Time, Her Fortune, and Endeavour lets her climb Dear to her Love, and Parents, she is held. Virgins, O Virgins, to sweet HYMEN yield. These are but words; hast thou a Knight will try (By stroke of Arms) the simple Verity? To that high proof I would have dared thee. I'll straight fetch Champions for the Brides and Me. The like will I do for Virginity. Now join; and if his varied Trial fail, To make my Truth in Wedlock's praise prevail, I will retire, and in more power appear; To cease this strife, and make our Question clear. Whereat OPINION insulting, followed her with this speech.
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)
In lests, and Laughter, they must laugh, and iest; When they wake, wake; and when they rest, must rest. And to their Wives Men give such narrow scopes, As if they meant to make them walke on Ropes: No Tumblers bide more perill of their Necks In all their Tricks; Then Wives in Husbands Checks. Where Virgins, in their sweete, and peacefull State Have all things perfect; spinne their owne free Fate; Depend on no prowd Second; are their owne Center, and Circle; Now, and alwaies One. To whose Example, we doe still heare nam'd One God, one Nature, and but one World fram'd, One Sunne, one Moone, one Element of Fire, So, of the Rest; One King, that doth inspire Soule, to all Bodies, in this royall Spheare: And where is Mariage more declar'd, then there? Is there a Band more strict, then that doth tie The Soule, and Body in such vnity? Subiects to Soveraignes? doth one Mind display In th'ones Obedience, and the others Sway? Beleeve it, Mariage suffers no compare, When both Estates are valew'd, as they are. The Virgin were a strange, and stubborne Thing, Would longer stay a Virgin, then to bring Her selfe fit vse, and profit in a Make. How she doth erre! and the whole Heav'n mistake! Looe how a Flower, that close in Closes growes, Hid from rude Cattell, bruised with no Ploughes, Which th' Ayre doth stroke, Sun strengthen, Showers It many Youths, & many Maids desire; (shoot higher, The same, when cropt by cruell hand is wither'd, No Youths at all, No Maydens have desir'd: So a Virgin, while vutouch'd she doth remaine, Is deare to hers; but when with Bodyes stayne Her chaster Flower is lost, she leaves to appeare Or sweete to Yong Men, or to Maydens deare. That Conquest then may crowne me in this Warre, Virgins, O Virgins fly from HYMEN farre. Virgins, O Virgins, to sweete HYMEN yeeld, For as a lone Vine, in a naked Field, Never extols her branches, never beares Ripe Grapes, but with a headlong heavinesse weares Her tender bodie, and her highest sproote Is quickly levell'd with hir fading roote; By whom no Husband-men, no Youths wil dwell; But if, by fortune, she be married well To th Elme, her Husband, many Husband-men, And many Youths inhabite by her, then: So whilst a Virgin doth, vntouch't, abide All vnmanur'd, she growes old, with hir pride; But when to equall Wedlocke, in fit Time, Her Fortune, and Endeuor lets her clime Deare to hr Loue, and Parents, she is held. Virgins, O Virgins, to sweete HYMEN yeeld. These are but words; hast thou a Knight will trie (By stroke of Armes) the simple Veritie? To that high proofe I would haue dared thee. Ile strait fetch Champions for the Brides and Mee. The like will I do for Virginitie. Now ioyne; and if his varied Triall faile, To make my Truth in Wedlocks praise prevaile, I will retire, and in more power appeare; To cease this strife, and make our Question cleare. Whereat OPINION insulting, followed her with this speach.