Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

GENIUS

in The Royal Entertainment at Theobalds, 1607 (The Genius) — Jonson, Ben

Metadata

PlayThe Royal Entertainment at Theobalds, 1607 (The Genius)
AuthorJonson, Ben
Year (catalogued)1640
First performance1607
Decade1640s
GenreEntertainment
Play typeOccasional
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)GENIVS.
Words178
Characters933
Typicality0.28 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA04632.14
BritDrama no.1540
ClusterCluster 7 — Pedants, satyrs & Latin wit

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

LEt not your glories darken, to behold The place, and me, her GENIUS here, so sad; Who, by bold Rumor, have been lately told, That I must change the loved Lord, I had. And he, now, in the twilight of sere age, Begin to seek a habitation new; And all his Fortune's, and himself engage Unto a seat, his father's never knew. And I, uncertain what I must endure, Since all the ends of dest'ny' are obscure. WHat sighed is this, so strange! and full of state! The son of MAIA, making his descent Unto the fates, and met with good Event. But is my Patron with this lot content, So to forsake his father's monument? Or, is it gain, or else necessity, Or will to raise a house of better frame, That makes him shut forth his posterity Out of his patrimony, with his name? Do men take joy in labors, not enjoy? Or does their business all their likings spend? Have they more pleasure in a tedious way, Then to repose them at their journeys end?

Plot summary

Plot — The Royal Entertainment at Theobalds, 1607 (The Genius)
The Genius of the house is sad to learn that his old master is to leave. At Mercury's behest, the Parcae declare that this change is fated to come when the house entertains the greatest king, fairest queen, and an unmatched pair of princes. Mercury assures him that the former owner of the house is happy with this state of affairs, and not ambitious for a better house. The Parcae enjoin him to accept his fate and his new mistress, Bel-Anna. Genius obeys and hands over the keys to the house.