in The Fortunate Isles and Their Union — Jonson, Ben
Metadata
Play
The Fortunate Isles and Their Union
Author
Jonson, Ben
Year (catalogued)
1625
First performance
1625
Decade
1620s
Genre
Masque
Play type
Occasional
Theater
before the Court;
Speech prefix(es)
CHORVS.
Words
202
Characters
1096
Typicality
0.51 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP id
A04652
BritDrama no.
2156
Cluster
Cluster 2 — Allegory, Nature & pageant voices
Important excerpts
No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).
Full speech
Then, think it not a common cause, That to it so much wonder draws, And all the heavens consent, With Harmony to tune their notes, In answer to the public votes, That for it up were sent. 'Tis odour all, that comes! And every tree does give his gums. See! all the flowers SARON, PORTUNUS, PROTEUS, help to bring Our Primrose in, the glory of the spring! And tell the Daffodil, against that day, That we prepare new Grlands fresh as May. And enterweaue the Myrtle, and the Bay. Spring all the Graces of the age, And all the Loves of time; Bring all the pleasures of the stage, And relishes of rhyme: Add all the softnesses of Courts, The looks, the laughters, and the sports. And mingle all their sweets, and salts, They none may say, the Triumph halts. Your looks, your smiles, and thoughts that meet. Ambrosian hands, and silver feet, Do promise you will do't. And may thy subjects hearts be all one flame. While thou dost keep the earth in firm estate, And amongst the winds, dost suffer no debate, But both at Sea, and Land, our powers increase, With health, and all the golden gifts of Peace.
Plot summary
Plot — The Fortunate Isles and Their Union
Merefool has been duped by the Rosicrucians, and after nine days’ abstinence, he is becoming impatient for results. The invisible spirit Johphiel plays a trick on him, telling him that he is now to assume high office in Castle Rosy-Cross. In the meantime, he wants to see some famous personages from antiquity: he asks for poets and philosophers, but Johphiel can only supply Scogan and Skelton; the figures whom Merefool requested are busy, he explains. Scogan and Skelton appear and present an antimasque of characters from old demotic literature. Merefool is dismissed as a gull. Johphiel announces that the Fortunate Isles of Macaria and Britannia are to be joined. Macaria arrives, bearing its inhabitants. Dancing ensues.