Ben Jonson, Barriers at a Marriage

From:
Hymenaei, or the Solemnities of Masque and Barriers,
magnificently performed on the eleventh and twelfth nights, from Christmas,
at court: to the auspicious celebrating of the Marriage union between
Robert, arle of sse!, and the lady "rances, second daughter of
the most noble arle of Suffol#e, $%&%
THE BARRIERS.
'( the ne!t night, whose solemnity was of BARRIERS, )all mention of the former being utterly
removed and ta#en away* there appeared, at the lower end of the hall, a mist made of delicate
perfumes+ out of which )a battle being sounded under the stage* did seem to brea# forth two
ladies, the one representing TRUTH, the other OPINION+ but both so ali#e attired, as they could
by no note be distinguished, -he colour of their garments was blue, their soc#s white+ they were
crowned with wreaths of palm, and in their hand each of them sustained a palm.bough, -hese,
after the mist was vanished, began to e!amine each other curiously with their eyes, and
approaching the state, the one e!postulated the other in this manner:
-ruth, Who art thou, thus that imitatst m !ra"e,
In ste#s, in ha$it, an% resem$&e% 'a"e(
'pin, )ra*e Time an% In%ustr m #arents are+
, name is Truth, -ho, throu!h these soun%s o' -ar,
Whi"h 'i!ure the -ise min%s %is"ursi*e si!ht,
In mists $ nature -ra#t, sa&ute the &i!ht.
-ruth, I am that Truth, thou some i&&usi*e s#ri!ht+
Whom to m &i.eness, the $&a". sor"eress Ni!ht
Hath o' these %r, an% em#t 'umes "reate%.
'pin, Best hera&% o' thine o-n $irth, -e&& re&ate%,
Put me an% mine to #roo' o' -or%s, an% 'a"ts,
In an /uestion this 'air hour e0a"ts.
-ruth, I "ha&&en!e thee, an% 'it this time o' &o*e,
With this #osition, -hi"h Truth "omes to #ro*e+
That the most honour% state o' man an% -i'e,
1oth 'ar e0"ee% the inso"iate *ir!in2&i'e.
'pin, I ta.e the a%*erse #art+ an% she that $est
1e'en%s her si%e, $e Truth $ a&& "on'est.
-ruth, It is "on'irm%. With -hat an e/ua& $ro-
To Truth, O#inions "on'i%ent3 an% ho-,
4i.e Truth, her ha$it she-s to sensua& ees3
But -hosoeer thou $e, in this %is!uise,
5&ear Truth, anon, sha&& stri# thee to the heart+
An% she- ho- mere #hantasti"a& thou art.
6no-, then, the 'irst #ro%u"tion o' thin!s
Re/uire% t-o+ 'rom mere one nothin! s#rin!s:
Without that .not, the theme thou !&oriest in,
7The un#ro'ita$&e *ir!in,8 ha% not $een.
The !o&%en tree o' marria!e $e!an
In Para%ise, an% $ore the 'ruit o' man+
On -hose s-eet $ran"hes an!e&s sat an% sun!,
An% 'rom -hose 'irm root a&& so"iet s#run!.
4o*e 7-hose stron! *irtue -ra#t hea*ens sou& in earth,
An% ma%e a -oman !&or in his $irth8
In marria!e o#ens his in'&ame% $reast+
An% &est in him nature shou&% sti'&e% rest,
His !enia& 'ire a$out the -or&% he %arts+
Whi"h &i#s -ith &i#s "om$ines, an% hearts -ith hearts.
,arria!e 4o*es o$9e"t is+ at -hose $ri!ht ees,
He &i!hts his tor"hes, an% "a&&s them his s.ies.
For her he -in!s his shou&%ers+ an% %oth '&
To her -hite $osom, as his san"tuar:
In -hi"h no &ust'u& 'in!er "an #ro'ane him,
Nor an earth -ith $&a". e"&i#ses -ane him.
She ma.es him smi&e in sorro-s, an% %oth stan%
:T-i0t him an% a&& -ants, -ith her si&*er han%.
In her so't &o".s his ten%er 'eet are tie%+
An% in his 'etters he ta.es -orth #ri%e.
An% as !eometri"ians ha*e a##ro*e%,
That &ines an% su#er'i"ies are not mo*e%
B their o-n 'or"es, $ut %o 'o&&o- sti&&
Their $o%ies motions+ so the se&'2&o*e% -i&&
O' man or -oman shou&% not ru&e in them,
But ea"h -ith other -ear the ana%em,
,irrors, thou!h %e".% -ith %iamon%s, are nou!ht -orth,
I' the &i.e 'orms o' thin!s the set not 'orth+
So men or -omen are -orth nothin! neither,
I' eithers ees an% hearts #resent not either.
'pin, Untou"h% ;ir!init, &au!h out+ to see
Free%om in 'etters #&a"e%, an% ur!% :!ainst thee.
What !rie's &ie !roanin! on the nu#tia& $e%(
What %u&& so"iet( in -hat sheets o' &ea%
Tum$&e an% toss the rest&ess marrie% #air,
Ea"h, o't, o''en%e% -ith the others air(
From -hen"e s#rin!s a&&2%e*ourin! a*ari"e,
But 'rom the "ares -hi"h out o' -e%&o". rise(
An%, -here there is in &i'es $est2tem#er% 'ires
An en%, set in itse&' to a&& %esires,
A sett&e% /uiet, 'ree%om ne*er "he".%+
Ho- 'ar are marrie% &i*es 'rom this e''e"t(
Euri#us, that $ears shi#s in a&& their #ri%e,
:)ainst rou!hest -in%s, -ith *io&en"e o' his ti%e,
An% e$$s an% '&o-s se*en times in e*er %a,
Toi&s not more tur$u&ent, or 'ier"e than the.
An% then -hat ru&es hus$an%s #res"ri$e their -i*es3
In their ees "ir"&es, the must $oun% their &i*es.
The moon, -hen 'arthest 'rom the sun she shines,
Is most re'u&!ent, nearest, most %e"&ines:
But our #oor -i*es 'ar o'' must ne*er roam,
But -aste their $eauties near their &or%s at home:
An% -hen their &or%s ran!e out, at home must hi%e,
<,ost= &i.e to $e!!% mono#o&ies, a&& their #ri%e>
When their &or%s &ist to 'ee% a serious 'it,
The must $e serious+ -hen to she- their -it
In 9ests an% &au!hter, the must &au!h an% 9est+
When the -a.e, -a.e+ an% -hen the rest, must rest.
An% to their -i*es men !i*e su"h narro- s"o#es,
As i' the meant to ma.e them -a&. on ro#es:
No tum$&ers $i%e more #eri& o' their ne".s
In a&& their tri".s, than -i*es in hus$an%s "he".s.
Where *ir!ins, in their s-eet an% #ea"e'u& state,
Ha*e a&& thin!s #er'e"t+ s#in their o-n 'ree 'ate+
1e#en% on no #rou% se"on%+ are their o-n
5entre an% "ir"&e+ no-, an% a&-as one.
To -hose e0am#&e -e %o sti&& hear nam%
One )o%, one nature, an% $ut one -or&% 'ram%,
One sun, one moon, one e&ement o' 'ire,
So o' the rest+ one .in!, that %oth ins#ire
Sou& to a&& $o%ies, in their roa& s#here.
-ruth, An% -here is marria!e more %e"&are% than there(
Is there a $an% more stri"t than that %oth tie
The sou& an% $o% in su"h unit(
Su$9e"ts to so*erei!ns( %oth one min% %is#&a
In the ones o$e%ien"e, an% the others s-a(
Be&ie*e it, marria!e su''ers no "om#are,
When $oth estates are *a&ue%, as the are.
The *ir!in -ere a stran!e, an% stu$$orn thin!,
Wou&% &on!er sta a *ir!in, than to $rin!
Herse&' 'it use an% #ro'it in a ma.e.
'pin, Ho- she %oth err, an% the -ho&e hea*en mista.e3
4oo., ho- a '&o-er that "&ose in "&oses !ro-s,
Hi% 'rom ru%e "att&e, $ruise% -ith no #&ou!hs,
Whi"h th air %oth stro.e, sun stren!then, sho-ers shoot hi!her,
It man ouths, an% man mai%s %esire+
The same, -hen "ro#t $ "rue& han% :tis -ithere%,
No ouths at a&&, no mai%ens ha*e %esire%:
So a *ir!in, -hi&e untou"h% she %oth remain,
Is %ear to hers+ $ut -hen -ith $o%s stain
Her "haster '&o-er is &ost, she &ea*es to a##ear
Or s-eet to oun! men, or to mai%ens %ear.
That "on/uest then ma "ro-n me in this -ar,
;ir!ins, O *ir!ins, '& 'rom Hmen 'ar.
-ruth, ;ir!ins, O *ir!ins, to s-eet Hmen ie&%,
For as a &one *ine, in a na.e% 'ie&%,
Ne*er e0to&s her $ran"hes, ne*er $ears
Ri#e !ra#es, $ut -ith a hea%&on! hea*iness -ears
Her ten%er $o%, an% her hi!hest s#rout
Is /ui".& &e*e&&e% -ith her 'a%in! root+
B -hom no hus$an%man, no ouths -i&& %-e&&+
But i' $ 'ortune, she $e marrie% -e&&
To the e&m her hus$an%, man hus$an%men
An% man ouths inha$it $ her, then:
So -hi&st a *ir!in %oth, untou"h%, a$i%e,
A&& unmanur%, she !ro-s o&% -ith her #ri%e+
But -hen to e/ua& -e%&o"., in 'it time,
Her 'ortune, an% en%ea*our &ets her "&im$,
1ear to her &o*e, an% #arents she is he&%.
;ir!ins, O *ir!ins, to s-eet Hmen ie&%.
'pin, These are $ut -or%s+ hast thou a .ni!ht -i&& tr,
B stro.e o' arms, the sim#&e *erit(
-ruth, To that hi!h #roo' I -ou&% ha*e %are% thee..
I&& strai!ht 'et"h "ham#ions 'or the $ri%e an% me.
'pin, The &i.e -i&& I %o 'or *ir!init.
Here, they both descended the hall, where at the lower end, a march being sounded with drums
and fifes, there entered )led forth by the arl of (ottingham, who was /ord High Constable for
that night, and the arl of 0orcester, arl Marshal* si!teen #nights armed with pi#es, and
swords+
their plumes and colours, carnation and white+ all richly accoutred, and ma#ing their honours to
the state, as they marched by in pairs, were all
ran#ed on one side of the hall, -hey placed si!teen others li#e accoutred for riches, and arms,
only that their colours were varied to watchet and
white+ who were by the same earls led up, and passing in li#e manner, by the state, placed on the
opposite side,
By this time, the BAR being brought up, TRUTH proceeded,
-ruth, No- 9oin+ an% i' this *arie% tria& 'ai&,
To ma.e m truth in -e%&o".s #raise #re*ai&,
I -i&& retire, an% in more #o-er a##ear,
To "ease this stri'e, an% ma.e our /uestion "&ear.
0hereat OPINION insulting, followed her with this speech,
O#in. A, %o: it -ere not sa'e thou shou&%st a$i%e:
This s#ea.s th name, -ith shame to /uit th si%e.
Here the champions on both sides addrest themselves for fight, first single+ after, three to three:
and performed it with that alacrity, and vigour, as if
Mars himself had been to triumph before 1enus, and invented a new masque, 0hen on a sudden,
)the last si! having scarcely ended* a stri#ing light seemed to fill all the hall, and out of it an
AN)E4 or messenger of glory appearing,
2ngel, Prin"es, atten% a ta&e o' hei!ht, an% -on%er,
Truth is %es"en%e% in a se"on% thun%er,
An% no- -i&& !reet ou, -ith 9u%i"ia& state,
To !ra"e the nu#tia& #art in this %e$ate+
An% en% -ith re"on"i&e% han%s these -ars.
U#on her hea% she -ears a "ro-n o' stars,
Throu!h -hi"h her orient hair -a*es to her -aste,
B -hi"h $e&ie*in! morta&s ho&% her 'ast,
An% in those !o&%en "or%s are "arrie% e*en,
Ti&& -ith her $reath she $&o-s them u# to hea*en.
She -ears a ro$e en"hase% -ith ea!&es ees,
To si!ni' her si!ht in msteries:
U#on ea"h shou&%er sits a mi&.2-hite %o*e,
An% at her 'eet %o -itt ser#ents mo*e:
Her s#a"ious arms %o rea"h 'rom east to -est,
An% ou ma see her heart shine throu!h her $reast.
Her ri!ht2han% ho&%s a sun -ith $urnin! ras,
Her &e't a "urious $un"h o' !o&%en .es,
With -hi"h hea*ens !ates she &o".eth an% %is#&as.
A "osta& mirror han!eth at her $reast,
B -hi"h mens "ons"ien"es are sear"he%, an% %rest:
On her "oa"h2-hee&s H#o"ris &ies ra".%+
An% s/uint2ee% S&an%er, -ith ;ain2!&or $a".%.
Her $ri!ht ees $urn to %ust, in -hi"h shines Fate:
An an!e& ushers her trium#hant !ate,
Whi&st -ith her 'in!ers 'ans o' stars she t-ists,
An% -ith them $eats $a". Error, "&a% in mists.
Eterna& Unit $ehin% her shines,
That 'ire an% -ater, earth an% air "om$ines.
Her *oi"e is &i.e a trum#et &ou% an% shri&&,
Whi"h $i%s a&& soun%s in earth, an% hea*en $e sti&&.
An% see3 %es"en%e% 'rom her "hariot no-,
In this re&ate% #om# she *isits ou.
nter TRUTH,
-ruth. Honour to a&& that honour nu#tia&s,
To -hose 'air &ot, in 9usti"e, no- it 'a&&s,
That this m "ounter'eit $e here %is"&ose%,
Who, 'or *ir!init, hath herse&' o##ose%.
Nor thou!h m $ri!htness %o un%o her "harms,
4et these her .ni!hts thin., that their e/ua& arms
Are -ron!% therein: For *a&our -ins a##&ause,
That %ares $ut to maintain the -ea.er "ause.
An% #rin"es, see, :tis mere O#inion
That in Truths 'or"e% ro$e, 'or Truth hath !one3
Her !au% "o&ours, #ie"e% -ith man 'o&%s,
She- -hat un"ertainties she e*er ho&%s:
;anish, a%u&terate Truth3 an% ne*er %are
With #rou% mai%s #raise, to #ress -here nu#tia&s are.
An%, "ham#ions, sin"e ou see the truth I he&%,
To sa"re% Hmen, re"on"i&e%, ie&%:
Nor 7so to ie&%8 thin. it the &east %es#i!ht:
?It is a "on/uest to su$mit to ri!ht.?
This roa& 9u%!e o' our "ontention
Wi&& #ro#, I .no-, -hat I ha*e un%er!one+
To -hose ri!ht sa"re% hi!hness I resi!n,
4o- at his 'eet, this starr "ro-n o' mine,
To she- his ru&e an% 9u%!ment is %i*ine+
These %o*es to him I "onse"rate -itha&,
To note his inno"en"e, -ithout s#ot, or !a&&+
These ser#ents, 'or his -is%om: an% these ras,
To she-, his #ier"in! s#&en%or: these $ri!ht .es
1esi!nin! #o-er to o#e the #orte% s.ies,
An% s#ea. their !&ories to his su$9e"ts ees.
4ast&, this heart, -ith -hi"h a&& hearts $e true:
An% truth in him ma.e treason e*er rue.
0ith this they were led forth, hand in hand, reconciled, as in triumph, 2nd thus the solemnities
ended,
;i*ite 5on"or%es, et nostrum %is"ite munus.