Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

RHYS

in Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue — Jonson, Ben

Metadata

PlayPleasure Reconciled to Virtue
AuthorJonson, Ben
Year (catalogued)1641
First performance1618
Decade1640s
GenreMasque
Play typeOccasional
Theaterbefore the Court;
Speech prefix(es)RHE. | RH. | RHEESE.
Words209
Characters1092
Typicality0.32 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA72473.8
BritDrama no.1854
ClusterCluster 11 — Tosspots & tavern railers

Important excerpts

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

Full speech

Who is angry? have you told the Kings Madestee of the alterations. Then Car is plain Welse, Caerlton, Caermardin, Cardiff. And Acmooty, is Ap mouth-wye of Llanmouthwye. AVll this's the backs now, let us tell ye, of some provisions for the belly: As Cid, and Goat, and great Goats mother, and Runt, and Cow, and good Cows Uther. And once but taste o'the Welse-mutton, your Englis-s'eep's not worth a button. And then for your Fiss, s'all shoose it your diss. look but about, and there is a Trout. A Salmon, Cor, or Chevin, Will feed you six, or seven, As taull man as ever swagger, With Welse-hooke, or long dagger. Still, still, &c. AV, but what say you should it shance too, that we should leap it in a Dance too, And make it you as great a pleasure, if but your eyes be now at leisure; As in your ears s'all leave a laughter, to last upon you six days after? Would! wella-goe too, let us try to do as your old Briton, things to be writ on. Come put on other looks now, And lay away your hooks too; And though yet you have no pump sirs, Let'hem hear that you can jump sirs. Still, still, &c.

Plot summary

Plot — Pleasure Reconciled to Virtue
Comus’ attendants steal Hercules’ cup for use in their drunken orgies. Fresh from kiWing Antaeus, Hercules sees them off, then is lulled to sleep. Some pygmies try to steal his club and avenge Antaeus, but are scared off when he wakes. Mercury proclaims the coming of a time when the opposites of Pleasure and Virtue shall be reconciled: for the time being Hercules does not need to choose between them. Virtue brings forth twelve princes bred inside the mountain, led by Daedalus, who directs and explains their dances as allegories of the interpenetration of virtue and pleasure, then beauty, and finally love. However, pleasure and virtue are only temporarily reconciled: the masquers must return to the mountain, where virtue remains its own reward.