Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

CUPID

in Christmas His Masque (Christmas His Show) — Jonson, Ben

Metadata

PlayChristmas His Masque (Christmas His Show)
AuthorJonson, Ben
Year (catalogued)1641
First performance1616
Decade1640s
GenreMasque
Play typeOccasional
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)CVPID— | CVPID.
Words204
Characters1056
Typicality0.25 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA72473.5
BritDrama no.1813
ClusterCluster 1 — Wives, widows & intimate counsel

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

WHy, now you take me! these are rites That grace Loves days, and crown his nights! These are the motions, I would see, And praise, in them that follow me! Not sighs, nor tears, nor wounded hearts, Nor flames, nor ghosts: but airy parts Tried, and refined as yours have been, And such they are, I glory in Come, do not call it CUPIDS crime, You were thought dead before your time. If thus you move to HERMES will Alone; you will be thought so still. Go, take the Ladies forth, and talk, And touch, and taste too: Ghosts can walk. betwixt eyes, tongues, hands, the mutual strife Is bred, that tries the truth of life. They do, indeed, Like dead men move, That think they live, and not in love! Your too much wit, breeds too much fear. But will you go? Can you leave LOVE, and he entreat you so? Here, take my quiver, and my bow, My torches too; that you, by all, may know I mean no danger to your stay: This night, I will create my holiday, And be yours naked, and entire. I swear: and with Like cause thank MERCURY, As these have, to thank him, and destiny.

Plot summary

Plot — Christmas His Masque (Christmas His Show)
A London citizen in the role of Christmas brings his festive ‘sons’ to perform a masque at court, but has some difficulty getting in. The show represents the elements of an old-fashioned Christmas, but not all the sons have turned up. Cupid is also included to represent the city’s love for their King. Keen to see her son act, Venus forces her way in, and persistently interrupts the performance. Her presence makes Cupid forget his lines, so Christmas hurries the proceedings on to the concluding dance.