Jonson, Ben · published 1608 · first performed or written 1608 [Jan 10] (Annals) masque · before the Court T12 Olympian gods: Jupiter, Juno, Venus and typicality 0.73 · 487 words
Marked words are the most distinguishing words of T12: iupiter, saturn, iuno, venus, gods, mars, earth, titan, love, fair.
WHich, among these is Albion, Neptune's Son? WHat ignorance dares make that question? Would any ask, who Mars were, in the wars? Or, which is Hesperus, among the stars? Of the bright Planets, which is Sol? Or can A doubt arise, 'mong creatures, which is man? Behold, whose eyes do dart Promethean fire Throughout this all; whose precepts do inspire The rest with duty; yet commanding, cheer: And are obeyed, more with love, than fear. WHat Power art thou, that thus informest me? DOst thou not know me? ay, to well, know thee By thy a rude voice, that doth so hoarsely blow, Thy hair, thy beard, thy wings, o'erhilled with snow, Thy Serpent feet, to be that rough north-wind, Boreas, that, to my reign, art still unkind. I am the Prince of Months, called Ianuary; Because by me b Ianus the year doth vary, Shutting up wars, proclaiming peace, & feasts, Freedom, & triumphs: making Kings his guests. TO thee then, thus, & by thee, to that King, That doth thee present honours, do I bring Present remembrance of twelve Aethiop Dames: Who, guided hither by the moons bright flames, To see his brighter light, were to the Sea Enjoined again, and (thence assigned a day For their return) were in the waves to leave Their blackness, and true beauty to receive. WHich they received, but broke their day: & yet Have not returned a look of grace for it, Showing a course, and most unfit neglect. Twice have I come, in pomp here, to expect Their presence; Twice deluded, have been fain With c other rites my Feasts to entertain: And, now the Third time, turned about the year Since they were looked for; and, yet, are not here. IT was nor Will, nor Sloth, that caused their stay; For they were all prepared by their day, And, with religion, forward on their way: When PROTEUS, d the grey Prophet of the Sea, Met them, and made report, how other four Of their black kind, (whereof their Sire had store) Faithful to that great wonder, so late done Upon their Sisters, by bright Albion, Had followed them to seek Britannia forth, And there, to hope like favour, as like worth. Which Night envied, as done e in her despite, And (mad to see an Aethiop washed white) Thought to prevent in these; lest men should deem Her colour, if thus changed, of small esteem. And so, by malice, and her magic, tossed The Nymphs at Sea, as they were almost lost, Till, on an Island, they by chance arrived, That f floated in the main; where, yet, she' had gived sight. Them so, in charms of darkness, as no might) Should lose them thence, but their changed Sisters Whereat the twelve (in piety moved, & kind) straight, put themselves in act, the place to find; Which was the night's sole trust they so will do,
seed 43: T53 · seed 44: unassigned — topic numbers are assigned independently in each run; equal or different numbers say nothing by themselves
Original spelling (EEBO-TCP, unregularized)
WHich, among these is Albion, Neptunes Sonne? WHat ignorance dares make that question? Would any aske, who Mars were, in the wars? Or, which is Hesperus, among the starres? Of the bright Planets, which is Sol? Or can A doubt arise, 'mong creatures, which is man? Behold, whose eyes do dart Promethean fire Throughout this all; whose precepts do inspire The rest with duty; yet commanding, cheare: And are obeyed, more with loue, then feare. WHat Power art thou, that thus informest me? DOst thou not know me? I, to well, know thee By thy rude voyce, that doth so hoarcely blow, Thy haire, thy beard, thy wings, ore-hil'd with snow, Thy Serpent feet, to be that rough North-winde, Boreas, that, to my raigne, art still vnkinde. I am the Prince of Months, call'd Ianuary; Because by me Ianus the yeare doth vary, Shutting vp warres, proclayming peace, & feasts, Freedome, & triumphes: making Kings his guests. TO thee then, thus, & by thee, to that King, That doth thee present honors, do I bring Present remembrance of twelue Aethiope Dames: Who, guided hither by the Moones bright flames, To see his brighter light, were to the Sea Enioyn'd againe, and (thence assign'd a day For their returne) were in the waues to leaue Theyr blacknesse, and true beauty to receaue. WHich they receau'd, but broke theyr day: & yet Haue not return'd a looke of grace for it, Shewing a course, and most vnfit neglect. Twise haue I come, in pompe here, to expect Theyr presence; Twise deluded, haue bene faine With other rites my Feasts to intertayne: And, now the Third time, turn'd about the yeare Since they were look'd for; and, yet, are not here. IT was nor Will, nor Sloth, that caus'd theyr stay; For they were all prepared by theyr day, And, with religion, forward on theyr way: When PROTEVS, the gray Prophet of the Sea, Met them, and made report, how other foure Of their blacke kind, (whereof theyr Sire had store) Faithfull to that great wonder, so late done Vpon theyr Sisters, by bright Albion, Had followed them to seeke BRITANIA forth, And there, to hope like fauor, as like worth. Which Night envy'd, as done in her despight, And (mad to see an Aethiope washed white) Thought to preuent in these; least men should deeme Her coulor, if thus chang'd, of small esteeme. And so, by mallice, and her magicke, tost The Nymphes at Sea, as they were allmost lost, Till, on an Iland, they by chance arriu'd, That floted in the mayne; where, yet, she' had giu'd sight. Them so, in charmes of darknes, as no might) Should loose them thence, but theyr chang'd Sisters Whereat the Twelue (in piety mou'd, & kind) Streight, put themselues in act, the place to finde; Which was the Nights sole trust they so will do,